Fresh starts for residents moving into their new homes

Disabled dad Mark says having a safe place to call home makes him feel “good.”

Before moving to his Wales & West home at Llys Onnen, Abergele, Mark had been living in temporary accommodation following the break-up of his marriage. He spent a year in a hotel before being moved to a caravan on a holiday park.

“Living in a caravan was a nightmare. It was freezing cold, and I was spending £80 every 2/3 weeks on gas bottles to run the heating,” says Mark, who has a degenerative nerve disease and Reynaud’s Disease.

“My whole body acts like a barometer. I have limited mobility in damp and cold conditions, so I need to keep warm.

In October, Mark, who has three grown-up daughters living in the Abergele area, moved into to his ground floor flat at Llys Onnen. He shares the flat with his emotional support dog, a husky called Nookie.

“The flat is lovely and warm and so spacious,” he says. “It has a big shower in the wet room.

“My girls have helped me to move in and made it homely for me. Now that I have a place of my own, they can come and visit me more often and help me. I feel really good in my new home.

“When you’re homeless you get used to living in a place, then you get moved on. It’s good to know that I can make it my home and know that I’m not going to be moved on.”

Resident, Mark

Mark is just one of the residents moving into the 43 apartments at Llys Onnen.

Built on the site of a former care home, we worked with our construction partners Castlemead Group Ltd, to build 43 homes to meet high levels of energy efficiency. The homes are also fitted with solar (PV) panels to generate electricity.

Grandmother Jenny has moved to another of the apartments at Llys Onnen. She says her new flat in Abergele means a fresh start for her and her family.

Before moving to her Wales & West home Jenny, a retired NHS worker, was sofa surfing between her two daughters’ homes.

“I was so excited when I got the keys to the flat. It’s beautiful!”

“My daughters helped me to move in. They are so pleased for me.”
Resident, Jenny

“They love my new flat.

“I finally have a bedroom and a place to call home where my daughters and grandchildren can come to visit me.”

Another resident Steven had been living with his parents for several years following a divorce, before being given the keys to his new home at Llys Onnen.

Steven, who has anxiety and depression, says “My flat is nice and spacious and has solar panels on the roof, so I should get some free electric.