Disabled Glasgow woman left to sleep on sun lounger after losing home to mite infestation

Rose Strain - who has a rare leg disease caused by diabetes medication - has been suffering from chronic back pain due to the conditions. 

Rose sadly found herself on the streets eight weeks ago after a mite infestation ransacked her home and caused her to lose all of her belongings.

Rose's old home

After the Glasgow Times stepped in, Link Housing Association bosses offered the 61-year-old a new bed and a cooker. 

Before she was moved into the Link property, Rose had been sleeping in her car as she claims that living conditions at the Blue Triangle homeless shelter were “horrific”.

“It was absolute hell”, she said.

“The conditions in the homeless unit were unbearable and generally horrific, my feet were sticking to the floors, the bedsheets were filthy and there were carpet bugs. 

“They were wanting £300 a month from me to live there and I’d rather have slept in my car.

“I’m a really clean and tidy person, I couldn’t bear it any longer.”

The Glasgow Times approached Blue Triangle for comment but the charity said it could not comment on Ms Strain’s allegations. 

While sleeping in her car, Rose applied for a Link Housing groundfloor flat that had become available. 

But after being told it would take several weeks for it to be ready to move into, she became desperate for a roof over her head and accepted a first-floor property.

She said: “I was eventually offered two flats – one was on the ground floor and the other was on the second floor. Due to my legs, I obviously wanted the one on the ground. 

“The housing said that work still needed to be done to it and that it would take a few weeks before they could finish it up. 

“It is the winter months now and it has been getting really cold – I couldn’t really wait much longer and needed a roof over my head so I had to choose the flat on the second floor. “

Although there is a stairlift, Rose is hesitant to use it in case it breaks.

Due to her condition, she has been struggling to make her way up and down the staircase.

She said: “The stairlift in my new block absolutely terrifies me, every time I use it I think it’s going to break. When I eventually get into my flat, I sit there with nothing in it.  

“There is no microwave, fridge, freezer, furniture or anything. It is a complete shell and it is meant to be sheltered housing.  

“I have been sleeping on two chairs pushed together. I fell ill recently with a chest infection and when the paramedics arrived, they took me into hospital for 10 days because of my housing conditions.  

“I think they wanted me to have a sleep. They helped me more than social work has so far. “

Having reached out to all avenues for help, Rose feels as though she is at a lost cause.

“It has been a really awful and dark chapter for me”, she said.

“I have never needed help before in my life until now. 

“I turned to social work but they just closed the door on me and didn’t want to know about it. I have had no help at all. 

“My last home was beautiful – I had it so nice and had so many lovely things. 

“It’s all lost now and I have nothing. There hasn’t even been any help for me to get some clothes on my back. 

“I have been sleeping on two chairs pushed together. I fell ill recently with a chest infection and when the paramedics arrived, they took me into hospital for 10 days because of my housing conditions.  

“I think they wanted me to have a sleep. They helped me more than anyone else has so far.” 

Link Housing teams said that they are currently working to move Rose into a more appropriate home that will cater to her needs. 

Rose's old home

A spokesperson said: “Ms Strain moved into the property at Peel Court on October 15, she was offered a ground floor and a first-floor property – Mrs Strain chose the first-floor property and the social work department confirmed this would be suitable for her needs.

“A member of our housing team spoke with Ms Strain on November 17 and, following this conversation, is working closely with her to help allocate a new home.

“Our homes do not usually come with white goods or furniture, however, in this instance, Link will arrange for the supply and installation of a new cooker and bed for Ms Strain until a new home can be allocated.”