Amie Greenfaery, a 45-year-old woman from the Cotswolds, relocated in 2017 to be closer to her husband's job, but to her dismay, she faced an eight-year ordeal before she could successfully use the front door of her new home. Initially deemed an urgent case for medical housing needs, Amie believed that her new residence would be easily modified to accommodate her disability, especially as the local authority had assured her that her request for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) would not be declined due to the property’s specifications.

Despite this reassurance, Amie's experience was fraught with delays and complications. Over the years, she encountered a bureaucratic process that proved much longer and more complicated than she anticipated. The DFG is designed to assist disabled individuals in making necessary adaptations to their homes, but the lengthy approval process left Amie without access to essential facilities that many take for granted, leading to significant frustration and obstacles in her daily life.

Amie's story highlights the challenges faced by disabled individuals in obtaining the support they need from local authorities, as well as the broader implications for housing accessibility and the efficiency of public grant systems. Her experience raises critical questions about the adequacy of existing mechanisms designed to assist those with disabilities and the urgent need for reform to better support vulnerable populations seeking safe and independent living conditions.