Chloe, who is autistic and has ADHD, moved into her bungalow in April this year, and a few months on, she’s loving having a home of her own.
“I love having my own house, it’s great”, said Chloe. “I love my garden where I can sit outside or play football, and I love cooking in my kitchen. I like the peace and quiet, but I also like that I can have people come visit.”
Before moving to her new home, Chloe lived at home with family five miles away. Carol is Chloe’s mum.
“A few years ago Chloe’s dad took ill and it stopped us in our tracks. You think you’re invincible until something like that happens and I realised I needed a plan for if something were to happen to us and we couldn’t look after Chloe anymore.”
“When we heard that Karbon were building these bungalows and Chloe was on the council’s allocations list to get one, I was over the moon.”
For Chloe, the idea of her own home was very exciting, “I was very excited, I was ready for it. My sisters helped me pick everything to get it how I’d like it and the first thing I bought was a sofa, which was really exciting.”
Carol added: “I was quite nervous as I didn’t know how she’d adapt, but the move went so well and she’s settled in quickly. It’s been such a success, I’m so proud of her.
“I can’t fault anything with the bungalow. It’s just perfect. And the change we’ve seen in her overall is amazing. It’s day and night from how she was when living at home.”
The Karbon scheme is designed to support residents with learning disabilities, autism and complex care needs to live more independently. Residents can live more independently with the security of 24/7 onsite care and support.
Due to suffering with seizures, Chloe needs care round the clock. This is provided by one of the commissioned care providers for the scheme, Coquet Trust.
Chloe said: “The staff are lovely. It’s really nice to have them around. We walk together down to the shops and we go out together on the bus. I love going on the bus and the stop is just on the street outside.”
Research shows that around three quarters of UK adults with a severe learning disability still live at their family home, due to the lack of specialist accommodation available. The schemes are also enabling the local council to move residents back to the borough who had no other option than to move away to access accommodation that met their needs.
Carol said: “There definitely needs to be more housing like this built. This type of accommodation is life-changing, not just for the residents but for their families.”
“Knowing Chloe is ok and being looked after here gives me such peace of mind. This is what I wanted for her and I couldn’t be happier to see her thriving.”
Chloe is going to college in September to do a discovery course designed to support individuals with learning difficulties.
“I’m looking forward to going to College. I like being busy, meeting new people and learning new things. I’m also looking forward to decorating my house more. I want to get some family photos up in the living room and get some colour on the white walls.”
“And it’s nice to know that Mum isn’t worried about me.”
Carol said: “The future looks so bright for Chloe now she’s settled into her forever home. I couldn’t be happier.”
The scheme Chloe lives in is part of two new supported housing schemes which is part-funded through Karbon’s strategic partnership with the government’s housing delivery agency, Homes England, to deliver 2,234 new affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire.
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