Lancing father of two disabled sons facing eviction and five-year wait for housing

Malcolm Bourne, 58, is a full-time carer for his 17-year-old son, Danny, who suffers from duchenne muscular dystrophy, a degenerative disease that leaves him wheelchair-bound and needing constant care.

He also shares custody of his son Tommy, 21, who has been left completely paralysed by the condition. Tommy splits his time between Malcolm and his mother in Shoreham.

The family have lived in a privately rented bungalow in Croshaw Close for nine years, which Malcolm said was already not fit for purpose.

With no disability facilities, Tommy has to go to the toilet in a bucket when he stays and cannot bathe. Malcolm sleeps in the living room.

Now, after his landlord decided to sell the bungalow, Malcolm has been told by Adur District Council that he must wait five years for suitable housing but can live in a one-bedroom flat in Bognor Regis in the meantime.

To make matters worse, the pandemic forced the cancellation of Tommy and Danny’s carers, leaving their parents to provide 24/7 care.

“It’s been hell,” said Malcolm. “Absolute hell. We’ve been stuck indoors since March with my children.

“Me and their mother have had to do it all ourselves for three or four months and it’s been absolute hell for both of us.”

After being given three months to vacate, Malcolm said it took longer than that just to register with the council’s housing officers.

He said he was advised to find more privately rented housing, which is expensive and not adapted, or ‘move somewhere cheaper’ – taking Danny away from his mum and special needs school in Burgess Hill.

A spokesman for the council said demand for social housing was ‘significantly more than what is available’ and temporary housing would only be offered ‘once a household is homeless’ and after a suitability assessment.

”The council works with those threatened with homelessness and advises them of their rights and options to try to prevent their homelessness based on their circumstances and needs,” said the spokesman.

“Our aim is to work with households at risk of homelessness to either secure their existing accommodation or to find another suitable accommodation.

“Demand for social housing is significantly more than what is available therefore there can be a long waiting time. For this reason, it is not often the best option to a household facing imminent homelessness. Temporary housing is only offered once a household is homeless and when offering temporary housing, a suitability assessment is carried out to ensure accommodation meets the households needs.

“Due to the needs of this family the service has been exploring temporary accommodation options and in liaison with the family about this.”