A FAMILY has been forced to live in a hotel with a one-year-old daughter for months, fearing for their safety and health.
Halmat Osman, who suffers from severe asthma and sciatica, says he is terrified of dying in the Travelodge in Redcliffe, where his family has been housed by Bristol City Council despite his health problems.
Halmat, who had previously rented privately for seven years, provided the council’s housing team with a letter from a respiratory nurse specialist at Southmead Hospital.
The letter explained that Halmat’s health conditions make him highly sensitive to cleaning products and perfumes.
But Halmat claims his warnings were ignored by the family’s housing officer.
Last week, Halmat says he collapsed in the lift due to a perfume smell, prompting a frantic call for an ambulance.
He said: “My wife and daughter were crying, they thought I was dead.”
The letter from Southmead’s respiratory specialist stated: “We are concerned about his poor asthma control and risk of hospitalisation.”
The nurse explained that due to his asthma and back pain, Mr. Osman struggles with both the lift and the stairs, making it difficult for him to navigate the around safely.
Despite this, the family has not been offered alternative accommodation.
The council’s health and housing team acknowledged in an email that Halmat is unable to use steps due to “evidenced sciatica and severe eosinophilic asthma” but have yet to relocate them.
Halmat added: “Any chemical smell impacts my breathing.”
The family’s situation is further complicated by financial hardship.
Without a car, they must carry heavy bags of laundry to the nearest laundrette regularly, while the lack of cooking facilities forces them to rely on costly takeaways.
Their attempts to find a new private rental have been unsuccessful, as they no longer meet the financial criteria required for properties in Bristol.
Halmat only recently learned he needed to register with Home Choice to bid for social housing, leaving them stuck in limbo.
He said: “We just want somewhere safe to live.
“I’m scared I might die here.”
The council has yet to comment on why the family’s requests for a move to safer accommodation have not been granted.
Meanwhile, 65-year-old, Gary Evans, gave up his private rental flat of 13 years for a new job as a live-in carer in October 2023.
But his plans fell through when the woman he was due to care for died just before he was due to start work and he now sleeps on the streets.
Gary says he is being forced to work until he dies as he’s 65, homeless and stuck in a dead-end job.
Elsewhere, A young mum has revealed that she is living in a homeless shelter with her baby – she says the ‘crib’ is ridiculous and not only is there mould covering the windows, but there’s no shower either.
In England, your council must help if you’re legally homeless or will become homeless within the next 8 weeks.
You may be legally homeless if:
There are different types of support your council could offer you. For example, they may offer you advice, emergency housing, support to find longer-term housing or help so you can stay in your home.
If you are looking for advice you can contacting housing charity Shelter for advice, Citizen Legal Advice for a legal aid, and speak to your local council for help.
