Council urged to help disabled man find home

A SEVERELY disabled man who is in care but is capable of living independently has been told he may not be able to get a home of his own, councillors have heard.

The wheelchair-bound man, referred to as Mr K, has been given top priority in a social housing scheme operated by Calderdale Council, but has been told that he may not be offered a property.

It costs around £1,100 a week to keep Mr K in care, and he is now on his second bid in the Keychoice housing scheme for a home of his own, with no guarantee of success.

Calderdale resident Ian Wood asked the council if it could intervene, using powers it has under the scheme to “direct let” Mr K a property. Mr Wood told a meeting of the council’s Cabinet: “His social worker has said that he could live an independent life in a suitable property. His rent would be paid by housing benefit and the council would receive this rent back in the form of subsidy via the Government. “Mr K is in dire need of a suitable property but all he is told by staff is that he has to bid… and although his is either number one, two or three in the queue he may not be offered the property.” Council leader Tim Swift, inset, said a written response would be sent regarding general policy and asked for details to be emailed about the specific case, with two senior officers present at the meeting.