I refused to maneuver when my care house shut down, now I stay right here solo

A disabled woman is the only resident left in a 50-room care home after it closed down – leaving her with nowhere else to go.

Jackie Kennedy, 53, moved into Ribbon Court assisted living complex in January 2023 after being diagnosed with a string of chronic health issues.

She has a damaged spine which restricts her movement as well as suffering with spondylitis and fibromyalgia.

Despite enjoying a new lease of life in the sheltered housing complex in Coventry, bosses decided to close it down last year.

The other residents moved into alternative accommodation but Jackie refused to leave and has been handed a section 21 eviction notice.

Since March Jackie has been living alone in the home and says she is terrified of the eerie corridors and empty rooms. 

Jackie, who lives with her dog Angel, claims Coventry City Council has failed to find her alternative housing to suit her complex health needs.

However the council says she was offered a bungalow but pulled out of the move at the last minute. They also say she has failed to proactively look for council accommodation herself via their online platform.

But Jackie claims: ‘It feels like doomsday and I’m trying survive on my own. All the corridors are empty, it’s like living in a horror film.’

‘I’m alone, isolated and I’m worried out of my mind with the way I’m being treated here. I’m just lost, I don’t know why I’m still living here alone.

‘All the tenants were moved out by the first deadline but not me. The manager said I was being difficult.

‘Only nine months after I moved in here, we were given a section 21 notice.

‘I thought this place might be good for me. I have a spine condition and I had to learn to walk again, so my GP recommended this place.

‘Last September the section 21 notices were issued to everyone.

‘We had a sit-down meeting with a lady from the council who said try not to worry as you’ll have priority.

‘I have never seen anyone from the council since.

‘Tenants have been taken out to viewings, but I haven’t had that. I don’t know why. I’ve not had any real answers.

‘They said we had to be out of the building by last October and tenants were being moved out very quickly to their new homes but I’ve never had a viewing for any council.

‘I’m trying to gather why I’m still being left here.’

GreenSqaureAccord (GSA), which own the complex, are turning the building into temporary housing.

The last resident moved out in March and Jackie says she’s scared to walk around after yobs raided the empty lounge.

She also says drug dealers and users gather outside the property and criminals have stolen furniture and electric goods.

Jackie added: ‘The power is turned off to the lifts so I can’t get up and down in my buggy.

‘It’s frightening at night time.

‘The lounge has been broken into and the cars have been broken into.

‘Thieves and drug dealers know the building’s empty and I’m the only tenant here. Any group of guys could come in here. The staff never come, they just have two security people.

‘They had all kitchen staff and reception. They had management and staff. Now there’s just nothing at all.

‘I’ve been speaking to the manager and messaging them, but I get nothing at all.’

Jackie will go to court on September 27 when the council will apply to remove her from the building.

She added: ‘I don’t know where to go. I went to Citizens Advice and they were helping until I got my solicitors advice. Now they’re not replying to me.

‘I’ve been in touch with a mental health team because of the stress. Other people were offered alternative housing but I haven’t had anything. I don’t get anything.

‘I’m in the darkest place I’ve ever been.’

A spokesman from GreenSquareAccord said: ‘We have repeatedly offered support since announcing our plans to change the use of Ribbon Court. We have attempted to engage with Miss Kennedy at least once a week in person. This is responded to by asking us to move from the door or call back later. 

‘When we do this there is no answer. We have sent text messages, called and emailed multiple times to offer support during this process and Miss Kennedy has not engaged with us through any of these channels.’

They added: ‘Over the past three years, it has become apparent that we are not utilising Ribbon Court as efficiently as possible. The building has been significantly under occupied, and this means the current service is not sustainable.

‘It will no longer operate as an extra care sheltered scheme and will instead fulfil a new purpose to better cater for housing needs in Coventry.

‘Working closely with Coventry City Council and subject to approval, we intend to use the building to provide a temporary accommodation service to families in the city who are experiencing homelessness.

‘As a not-for-profit organisation, we have a responsibility to work alongside the local authority to ensure that everyone in our communities has access to suitable housing, maximising the use of all our properties to achieve this goal.’

A spokesperson for Coventry City Council, said: ‘We work hard with all our vulnerable residents facing similar circumstances to Jackie and that’s why housing officers have been working with her and her advocates, since August 2023, to offer support and help her seek alternative accommodation. 

‘Contrary to the suggestion that we have not helped, we want to stress that adjustments have been made with the added support of adult social care including four offers of housing, none of which she responded on. 

‘Jackie was also able to place bids for properties herself on Homefinder which she has not done. our records show that four offers have been made and the option remains for her to make further bids for properties at any time. 

‘Also, Jackie was made a separate, direct offer of accommodation of a two-bedroom bungalow which was assessed as being suitable for her needs, this offer included comprehensive moving in support from Green Square Accord (GSA) and the property included a garden, parking space, and was also dog friendly. 

‘In total the Council’s adults social work teams, commissioning and housing team have been working very closely with the GSA management team, the 40 tenants, and their families to arrange moves to alternative accommodation.’