The search for a suitable home for David was extremely difficult.
David grew up in the family home and when he was 20 it was felt that it was the right time for him as an adult to move into his own home.
The main worry for me was that if a suitable home couldn’t be found, one that was near to where he grew up, it would have destroyed him. Autistic people like David need predictability and familiarity without this he would have been devastated and would have struggled to cope.
I was looking for a home in our local area, close to the family home, which would be his choice as it was where he was brought up and lived all his life. It’s a nice area with good transport networks, rural, close to beaches, and cafes close at hand, all of which would meet his needs.
I’d researched other housing options but they could not offer what David needed due to his complex needs nor in the area of his choice – most importantly, near family. Initial housing options were disappointing, with many located in more run-down, built-up areas which caused concern for me about David’s welfare and ability to cope on his own, away from his family and familiar surroundings.
I found out about Golden Lane Housing from researching on the internet. Right from the start, they listened to my views as a mother. I felt respected and valued, and I recognised that person-centred support was embedded within their ethos and culture.
Supported housing has had a huge impact on David’s mental, emotional and psychological health. You know when you’re in your own home and so that gives him value and respect and he can live the life he wants to live. His home is close to excellent transport links so he can regularly go out both locally as well as trips to Wales and Chester.
David’s been able to retain links with where he was brought up, and with his family – which is so crucial. It’s enabled him to be independent. It’s enabled his life to be personalised and it has also helped to retain his rights to be treated as an equal citizen and live his life as any normal person can. He is able to be part of his community, which is so important to him.
David has his own home and everything is built around him. If he wasn’t in his own home, my fear was that he could have ended up in an institutional facility and he would have had to ‘fit in’. Being autistic, David is noise sensitive and needs to live in a low aroused environment. He also needs a lot of time to process information. A lot of his triggers are around noise as well as a lack of predictability. I think a residential facility would be sensory overload for David and he would have become very ill.
Supported housing means working closely with David where its needed and working in partnership with the family, and that is absolutely crucial so he can be happy and get on living his life.
Golden Lane Housing maintains David’s home to the highest of standards and upgrades to the highest of standards and involve him whenever and wherever possible. The whole process totally involves him and is about making a house a home. He is valued and they always act in his best interest.
I am given peace of mind that David is happy and has the opportunity to live a full life.
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