Dundalk man features in Irish Wheelchair Association's Home Truths Campaign

Dundalk man Brendan Thornton has spoken about his housing challenges as part of The Irish Wheelchair Association’s ‘Home Truths’ campaign.

‘Home Truths: Because everyone deserves a place to call home’ is an IWA awareness campaign aimed at amplifying the voice of people with disabilities to highlight their experience in the housing market, exposing the barriers IWA members encounter to secure wheelchair liveable housing.

IWA members have shared their home truths as part of the campaign which lay bare the challenges they face, including Brendan Thornton from Dundalk in Co Louth who is paralysed because of a road traffic accident over 20 years ago.  

While Brendan accepts, especially in the current housing crisis in Ireland, that he is lucky to have a roof over his head, he says that unfortunately the small size of his home, coupled with his disability, is presenting difficulties and no longer meets the needs of him and his family.

He explained: “I was given this Cluid Housing Association house in Farndreg about two years after my accident which I was delighted with back then.  

“I don’t think the council had a suitable house available in their housing stock for a wheelchair user at the time.  It’s mainly OAPs and single persons living in the houses here.

“I was 25 and single at the time and I would assume a lot of them would have thought you are a wheelchair user, you are not going to have a family, we’ll stick you in the wee space there and you’ll be grand.”

Brendan now shares his home with his partner Katie and their toddler son. 

The couple would love to ‘grow their family’ but just don’t have the space.  

They have transferred back onto Louth Co Council’s housing list but don’t know when a wheelchair liveable home suitable for their needs might become available.

While the family love where they live, the restricted space in the tiny sitting room cum kitchen of their current home, which also has to accommodate their son’s baby equipment and toys, means that Brendan faces challenges trying to manoeuvre his wheelchair.  

The uphill ramps into the house also pose physical difficulties for Brendan as he gets older.

According to Louth County Council there are currently 218 housing applicants in the physical disability category on the housing waiting list in the county, and their housing need, size of required housing, and areas of choice, vary.

The council also confirmed that at present, there are no vacant units in Co Louth that are wheelchair liveable or accessible. 

Brendan said: “For people who don’t have a physical disability there are more options out there.  

“Even if we wanted to go on HAP you will struggle to find somewhere that is wheelchair liveable or accessible.”

“My life changed overnight when I had my car accident.  I now have a partner and a son; my needs have changed.

“There are definitely more challenges to face when you are in a wheelchair.”