A CHARITY in Coalpit Heath has been handed the keys to its first two properties bought to provide housing for its disabled members.

Paul’s Place, a day centre for adults with disabilities and learning difficulties, bought the bungalow on Beesmoor Road two years and just finished converting it into two one-bedroom homes.

The specially-adapted bungalows will be rented out at affordable rates to two members of the charity’s day centre who were found to have the highest need.

Paul’s Place founder Kath Aldom said: “We had lots of people interested because there is no housing in this area which our members can afford or that is suitable for disabled people living on their own.

“It is very rare for a disabled person to live in a shared house which they means they have to live alone but this area is very expensive. Many get housing benefit but that has not caught up with real costs.

“This is something we have wanted to do for a long time and is in response to listening to our members.”

The homes, owned outright by Paul’s Place, are fully accessible and feature a wet room bathroom, lowered kitchen and wheelchair friend garden. They both have wide doors inside and out and low-level light switches to make living independently possible for the new residents.

“We used a point system to find which of our members had the highest need,” said Kath. “We intend to help them integrate fully with the community and have spoken with the neighbours of the property throughout this process.

“The new residents are hoping to run a senior citizens’ afternoon at the Brockeridge Centre in Frampton Cotterell and do some voluntary work in the community.”

She said the homes, which will be occupied in the next two weeks, could be the first of many.

“We are trying to provide everything we can that our members need,” added Kath.

“By doing this and making this provision, our members’ carers are almost at peace because they know their loved ones are not going to be homeless and they have affordable homes in an area where they are close to the day centre, near a bus stop and have the ring and ride facility.

“And if we can provide more housing they will not be alone.

“It is a dream and it makes me very proud.”