Dying dad sleeping in living room as family stuck on housing list for 15 months

A family of six has been on the waiting list for a new home for 15 months, with a terminally ill dad, mum and youngest child forced to sleep in the living room.

The Hutchinsons were already on the East Lothian Council housing list after outgrowing their Dunbar home when Paul, 30, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in January 2024.

Their need for a new home became critical.

After some of the tumour was removed and a biopsy was carried out, the dad became unsteady on his feet.

He was no longer able to make his way upstairs, and his wife Alana, 38, and one-year-old Paul Jr, moved into their living room beside him – they have slept there ever since.

Currently, one bathroom is shared between the six family members, with Alana having to take her husband to her parents several times to bathe him due to the unsuitability of the facilities.

In May 2024, an occupational therapist carried out an assessment of the family’s living conditions.

The report found that the property did not meet the “current or anticipated future needs” of firefighter Paul or his family.

Alana and Paul are currently sleeping in the living room with their one-year-old son. Supplied

The report states the need for rehousing to a property with a downstairs bedroom and washroom was “urgent”.

But almost a year after the assessment was carried out, the Hutchinsons are still waiting..

Alana has described the last 15 months as a “living hell” for the family and believes the experience is ruining the time they have left with Paul.

“My husband was a fireman and is a veteran, he has done his bit for the community,” she told STV News.

“Now it feels as though we are receiving no support. With Paul being terminal we should be trying to make as many memories as possible.

“It has been a living hell. We have no social life because we are embarrassed about the way we are living.

“I’ve got no hope”.

The mum-of-four believes relocation to an appropriate bungalow or property would bring “dignity back” into her husband’s.

Alana added: “It would make a massive difference.

“A new home could give my husband some independence back and a normal life.

“Right now he can’t go upstairs to say goodnight to his kids. I just want to give him some dignity back.

“A new home is critical for us. There was a suggestion to relocate out of the town but that would be taken us away from our support network”.

East Lothian Council says the social housing sector is “under immense pressure” after declaring a housing emergency in November.

The local authority manages around 9,400 properties with around 4,500 applicants currently on the waiting list.

A spokesperson from the council said: “We are implementing an action plan to try to tackle housing and homelessness pressures and continue to work closely with tenants and other partner agencies, however it does mean that some individuals and families do need to wait a number of months for a transfer to a different property, particularly when we are looking at properties of a specific size, in a specific area, that have to meet set requirements.

“We maintain regular contact with tenants in these situations and continue to support them as best we can and tackle any issues that arise with their accommodation while a suitable alternative property is found.”