A 52-year-old man from Bootle with significant health problems reports being on the social housing waiting list for more than ten years. Wayne Berry, who relies on a crutch for mobility, says his current first-floor flat is unsuitable for his needs and that he feels trapped in a cycle of insecure private rentals.
Mr. Berry's situation highlights a growing housing crisis in Sefton, where the council reports a more than 100% increase in households requiring temporary accommodation since August 2023. This issue is compounded by a shortage of affordable social housing and rising homelessness across the borough.
Key Takeaways
- Wayne Berry, 52, has been on the Sefton housing list for over 10 years without being offered a suitable property.
- He requires a ground-floor flat due to mobility issues, but currently lives on the first floor.
- Mr. Berry states his dyslexia and inability to use a computer prevent him from bidding on properties himself, a barrier he claims the council has not adequately addressed.
- Sefton is facing a significant housing crisis, with up to 200 households presenting as homeless each month in 2024.
- Council spending on homelessness in England has risen by 50% in the last year, reaching £1 billion.
A Decade-Long Wait for a Home
Wayne Berry's search for a stable and suitable home began over a decade ago. After a divorce in 2010, he experienced homelessness and a mental health crisis, which marked the start of a long period of housing instability. Since then, his health has declined significantly.
Mr. Berry suffers from several conditions that affect his breathing and mobility, including osteoporosis and brittle bone disease. He uses a crutch to move around his home and says the daily task of climbing stairs is a painful struggle.
Despite his clear need for accessible accommodation, he has remained on the housing list without success. He has moved between various privately rented properties, most recently after receiving a 'no fault eviction' notice from his previous landlord, an increasingly common reason for homelessness in the UK.
The Challenge of the Bidding System
After his most recent eviction, Mr. Berry sought help from Sefton Council's housing options team. He was informed that he would qualify for the highest priority band on the Property Pool system, but was also warned that demand far outstrips supply, meaning a long wait was still likely.
A major barrier for Mr. Berry is the bidding process itself. Due to dyslexia and a lack of computer skills, he is unable to navigate the online system to bid for properties independently.
"My problem is that I can’t bid on new homes myself because of my dyslexia and the fact I can’t use a computer. I was assured housing options would help me bid because my conditions are on file and I need that little bit extra support."
He claims that despite these assurances, he has been left feeling unheard and unsupported. "I was forever phoning up, saying, ‘what’s going on?’... They kept saying they’d call me, but I heard nothing," Mr. Berry explained. "The system is broke. This has been going on now for over ten years near enough, and I’m getting fed up with it."
Sefton Housing Crisis by the Numbers
- 100%+ Increase: Rise in eligible households in temporary accommodation since August 2023.
- 200 Households: The number of families and individuals presenting as homeless each month in 2024.
- £1 Billion: Amount spent by English councils on homelessness provision in the last year, a 50% increase.
Living with Daily Difficulties
Mr. Berry's current home is a first-floor flat in Bootle. While it provides a temporary roof over his head, its location presents daily challenges that worsen his physical condition.
"This place is on the first floor and it’s painful getting up and down, and especially getting shopping up here with a crutch in one hand," he said. The building has an accessibility ramp, but he worries about the coming winter months.
"With the winter coming... what happens if it’s icy out there and I can’t get out to the shop?" he asked, referring to the slopes on the ramp. "I need a ground floor flat or a one bedroom bungalow. I’m 52 now and my health’s getting worse. I’m in constant pain every day, from the moment I wake up."
His plea is simple and direct. "I don’t want a palace or a pot of gold, I just want a chance to live decently," he stated. "Instead of that security, I’m stuck waiting here for another knock on the door telling me I have to find somewhere else to live, and then back to square one."
National Context: A System Under Strain
The issues faced by Wayne Berry are reflective of a national housing emergency. According to Sefton Council's own Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for 2024-29, a combination of factors is driving the crisis. These include a severe lack of affordable social housing, changes in the private rented sector leading to more evictions, and an insufficient range of housing types to meet complex needs.
The strategy document warns of a "significant cohort of local people with long histories of homelessness or housing instability who are effectively circling the system, leading to deterioration of health."
A Systemic Gridlock
The core of Mr. Berry's frustration lies in what he describes as a systemic failure to accommodate his specific needs. He feels caught in a bureaucratic loop where his inability to use a computer—a documented issue—prevents him from accessing the very system designed to help him.
Sefton Council has reportedly indicated its awareness of Mr. Berry's case and stated it has attempted to contact him. The council also noted that if Mr. Berry could submit the required completed forms, it would be able to progress his application.
However, for Mr. Berry, this response only confirms his predicament. "It just shows that I’m trapped in the system," he responded. "Stuck like so many others because I’ve told them I’m dyslexic and I can’t use a computer. You tell me what I can do?"
His decade-long wait continues, a personal story that illustrates the immense pressure on local authorities and the human cost of a housing system struggling to cope with overwhelming demand.