Glasgow refugee family need new home as son terrified of lift in high rise

Dumbreck Court, Glasgow south side.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A Ukrainian refugee family have asked to be moved from high rise flats as their autistic son is terrified of the lifts, their home has mould and they need more space due to special needs.

Every day seven-year-old Hassan grips his mum's hand tightly in the elevator as he is so scared on the way to and from school to their home on the 11th floor.

The family also have seven month old baby daughter who sleeps in a bedroom with mould while dad Firas, 57, has Crohn's disease and struggles to walk on stairs in the overcrowded flat.

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Describing Hassan's reaction to the lift at the Bellahouston tower block, mum Reem, 43, said: "He grips my hand and is shaking - he is terrified and I can't help him."

Commenting on the mould on the bedroom wall and in the kitchen, Reem said: "They have been trying to fix it but it keeps coming back. It is difficult due to our family needs. I know there is a problem with housing across the whole country. But surely there must be a solution."

Hassan is terrified of the lift as he lives on the 11th floor.
Hassan is terrified of the lift as he lives on the 11th floor.

Housing association the Wheatley Group said they are trying to do all they can to help the family, who became their tenants in January, including quickly rushing to treat the mould.

Another issue is Hassan has to sleep in a different floor in the two bedroom flat - making it difficult as Reem has to run up and down stairs as he wakes a lot at night.

The couple are hoping they could be relocated to a new social housing flat in the area that is on the ground or first floor with three bedrooms on the same level and two toilets.

Dad Firas's chronic illness means he has use the toilet extremely frequently.

Their children cannot share a bedroom as Hassan is autistic.

Mould in the flat
Mould in the flat

When the family fled the war in Ukraine for Glasgow in 2022 they lived on a ship for three and a half months before being moved to the flat at 40 Dumbreck Court beside Bellahouston Park last year.

Reem said: "I am happy with the support we have received and to be in a safe place and with my son's education. The school is really good so we really want to stay in this area. We are very grateful. I don't want to complain but moving from Ukraine has been very hard especially having a child with special needs.

"Six months ago a rocket landed next to our home in Ukraine - and the windows are gone."

Faten Hameed, of the Scottish Iraqi Association said: "Housing has failed the family. The family are grateful that Britain has accommodated them and provided a safe haven but when we bring people here we need to meet their needs. The family have two medical conditions. They are in need of help."

A Wheatley Homes Glasgow spokesperson said: “We weren’t made aware of any medical concerns when the family became tenants with us in January. We’re doing all we can to help them find a move to a larger home which now meets their needs.

“We’ve carried out repairs in the flat, including being out quickly to treat the small traces of mould.

“Our teams visited the home again today and found tape had been put across the window seals and the air vents closed, causing condensation.

“We’ve arranged a date for these repairs and will continue to work with the family to find a move to a larger ground or first floor home.”

Glasgow is currently facing a housing shortage and the council declared a housing emergency last year.

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