Why ruin a safe and secure home just to save money?

Published: 20 August, 2010

• WE are writing to express our worries about plans by Islington Council to close our support unit in St Paul’s Road, Highbury.

This house, supported by 404 Centre, has provided a safe and secure “home” environment for six or more people with learning difficulties and support workers since 1987.

It is a place where together we look after each other, learn, cook, do the garden and share cleaning duties in a “family” atmosphere to great benefit to all concerned. Tenants gain skills for independent living and several have successfully moved on, thanks to the learning atmosphere at St Paul’s Road.

We have often invited tenants with learning disabilities from other houses and organise get-togethers and parties. Our house is part of the community. We like living here and we have good relationships with residents, shops and businesses.

So why ruin all that? The council says it wants to save money and our tenants will be re-homed in self-contained flats, where they may find themselves living alone. Will that save anyone any money? We doubt it.

If our unit is closed, tenants will lose vital support and people with learning difficulties will have a more restricted range of accommodation to choose from.

Please, we appeal to everyone to support our campaign. Don’t destroy our community.

TENANTS AND SUPPORT WORKERS
St Paul’s Road, N1