Navy veteran Bill Winter forced to sleep in hospital bed in living room in dud social housing

A disabled Navy veteran’s has been forced to sleep on a hospital bed in his lounge room as his social housing unit does not have space for his wheelchair. READ HIS STORY >>

• Three affordable homes built with millions in funds
• Housing crisis is keeping prisoners behind bars

HE DEDICATED his life to serving his state and country, but now a southern Tasmanian man feels he’s been let down by the government as he struggles to survive in social housing.

Bill Winter sleeps in his lounge room on a hospital bed and struggles to access most rooms in his two-bedroom Sorell unit as the house is unsuitable for a wheelchair-user.

The 74-year-old has lived in his two-bedroom Sorell unit since September 2007 and has been trying to move into a more suitable unit since 2012.

He previously served in the Navy and worked for Tasmania Police.

74-year-old Bill Winters is in a wheelchair and lives in, social housing at Sorell. Due to accessibility issues he sleeps on a hospital, bed in his living room and finds it difficult to get into the bathroom. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

“I’ve got a wheelchair and crutches, but my doctor doesn’t want me on crutches because I have too many falls,” he said.

“But my wheelchair won’t fit down the hallway. The house is just not accessible with a wheelchair.

“And the bathroom is a joke. I’ve been told I need to use a chair in there, but you can’t fit one in. I need to leave the door to the shower open and then the bathroom floods. Mould is a strong possibility.”

The unit also contains three sets of stairs.

Bill Winter is in a wheelchair and lives in, social housing at Sorell. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

“Honestly, I am so mentally drained. I’m very short-tempered now and I never used to be,” he said.

“If I leave on my (mobility) scooter to head out to the shop, it’s so hard knowing I’ve got to come back here.”

Mr Winters said he hoped to move to a more suitable unit on the Eastern Shore so that his GP and specialists would be close by.

He also hoped for a bigger unit to enable family to stay with him.

“I’ve told them I’d like a three-bedroom modified house — a four bedroom would be terrific, but they’re as scarce as hen’s teeth,” he said.

“The department told me I needed to either wait until someone leaves or dies.

“Nothing seems to happen and Housing (Tasmania) just doesn’t seem to care.”

Communities Tasmania did not comment on the specifics of Mr Winter’s case, however a spokesman said Housing Tasmania had a range of properties specifically designed for clients in need of modifications suitable for those with mobility issues.

“Housing Tasmania tenants can also make requests relating to disability-related property modifications, which need to come from Disability and Community Services or an Occupational Therapist,” he said.

“The government is investing in new accommodation options and undertaking significant refurbishments of some of its stock to improve the accessibility of the dwellings and cater for older Tasmanians and those living with a disability,” he said.

“All new and refurbished social housing dwellings being delivered since 2015 are built to Liveability Housing Design Guidelines or AS1428 accessibility standards.”

Follow @kaseywilkins95