East London Council Faces Backlash Over 'Traumatizing' Housing Process for Vulnerable Families
Families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Hackney have launched scathing criticism against the local council, accusing it of implementing a "traumatizing" and "adversarial" housing needs assessment system. Parents argue that the process routinely dismisses medical evidence and prolongs unsafe living conditions for some of the borough's most vulnerable residents.
'Fragmented' System Leaves Families Falling Through Gaps
Niki Lampaski, whose non-verbal autistic son Erik also suffers from sensory processing disorder, spoke on behalf of the campaign group Housing Inclusion Hackney during a council meeting on February 11. She warned that Hackney's "fragmented" system was failing families who need to be relocated for safety reasons.
"Overcrowding and disrepair are routinely dismissed as 'non-medical' concerns," Ms. Lampaski stated. "Professional medical evidence is consistently minimized or reinterpreted. Children with hidden disabilities are treated as though their needs are negotiable. Families face repeated, adversarial assessments rather than supportive, safeguarding-led processes."
Medical Evidence Downplayed Despite Serious Conditions
The Lampaski family of four currently shares a one-bedroom private flat in Hackney, despite Erik's complex medical needs. The child lacks awareness of danger and requires regular monitoring for heart and liver functions. Ms. Lampaski reported that council reviewers had "applied a positivity lens to every need presented to the point where my child apparently has no needs."
She highlighted the contradictory nature of the council's approach, noting: "Hackney Education places him in a special needs school, yet housing services claim he has insufficient needs. This inconsistency makes no logical sense for families navigating these systems."
Severe Housing Shortage Compounds the Problem
Hackney faces one of London's most severe social housing crises, with approximately 8,500 households currently on the waiting list. According to research from the Centre for London, families requesting three-bedroom properties can expect to wait an astonishing 17 years and six months for suitable accommodation.
Councilor Sade Etti, Cabinet Member for Homelessness Prevention, acknowledged the structural challenges, stating: "Only 10 percent of our social housing is on the ground floor, yet this is exactly what our SEND families require for accessibility and safety."
Internal Criticism and Proposed Solutions
During a meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission, committee chair Councilor Sophie Conway offered pointed criticism of the council's contradictory approaches. "We cannot have families being told by one service that their child has sufficient needs to qualify for specialist schooling, while another service claims those same needs are insufficient for housing support," she asserted.
Councilor Conway emphasized the emotional toll on families, adding: "Sometimes it's easy to assume all families want is suitable accommodation. But often they seek acknowledgment of their struggles, even if they remain on waiting lists for extended periods."
Campaigners Demand Systemic Change
In a report titled Lived Realities, campaigners have called for the council to replace its current review system with a dedicated medical assessment panel. However, a senior council director suggested staffing limitations might prevent this reform.
Alex Clarke, Director of Housing Strategy and Homelessness, acknowledged room for improvement, stating: "Our assessment process should not be traumatizing or feel adversarial. I'm willing to discuss how we can enhance this system."
The controversy intensified in October when families discovered the council had instructed NHS staff to stop writing support letters for SEND children needing safer housing. Hackney Council defended this decision, claiming such letters were "not needed" for their assessment procedures.
As the housing crisis deepens across East London, vulnerable families with SEND children continue to navigate what they describe as a bureaucratic maze that prioritizes process over genuine need, leaving many in unsuitable and potentially dangerous living conditions for years.
