Source: 24dash.com [Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing]

A young man who was injured in a car crash in October was able to leave hospital and move into a purpose-built bungalow this week.

David Went, 24, from St James, Northampton, sustained spinal injuries when he was involved in an accident on a country road nine months ago and has since been cared for in three different hospitals - Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, Northampton and Sheffield.

One in five people with spinal injuries is placed in inappropriate accommodation such as nursing homes or sheltered housing schemes for older people upon discharge from hospital but thanks to a partnership between East Midlands Housing (EMH), Aspire and Northampton Borough Council, David was able to move into Northampton’s first, fully furnished, adapted bungalow that caters for this specialist need this week. 

At a ceremony to open the new scheme, MP for Northampton North, Sally Keeble, congratulated EMH and Aspire on the outstanding work and design that has gone into the property and called for more homes to be built this way.

She said: “What people have to understand is that this should be the norm.  If we build houses like this then everybody will have a house that grows with them and adapts with them and supports them whatever happens in the course of their lives.”

David, who worked as a mechanic prior to the accident, said: “I will spend six months here as a stop-gap to somewhere more permanent. It’s nice, especially with the furniture.

"I will be having a barbecue in the garden at the weekend.”

Jim Patman, East Midlands Housing’s Development Director, said: “This truly has been a partnership in that without everybody’s input we would not have been able to achieve this project.”

Brian Carlin, the chief executive of Aspire, the charity that will be managing the properties, said that the Organisation has 12 other properties like this across the country and plans to have at least 30 by 2010.

He said: “From our research, we understand that 20 per cent of people discharged from spinal injuries centres are placed in inappropriate accommodation, that is to say, into an environment which does not promote independence or allow the individual to be reunited with family, friends and colleagues. It’s not just about housing and accessibility, it’s about people.

"This is a base from which they can rebuild their lives and start thinking about their future.”

EMH developed a further three bungalows alongside the Aspire property. The new scheme replaces a row of derelict garages that were a hot spot for vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Pictures shows:  (left to right) Jim Patman (Development Director for East Midlands Housing), David Went (new resident), Sally Keeble (MP for Northampton North) and Brian Carlin (Chief Executive of Aspire).