Woman with autoimmune disorder wins legal action over assessment

A woman who suffers an autoimmune disorder should have been considered vulnerable when assessing her need for help with homelessness, a judge at Central London County Court has ruled.

Recorder Jones QC said the woman, known as ’T’ had ankylosing spondylitis, an auto-immune disorder causing symptoms of pain and stiffness in the lower spine and pelvis and which had led to arthritis. She also suffered from depression.

A doctor’s report had said that homelessness would have a devastating affect on her, and that she might be unable then to manage her physical conditions, which could in turn lead to increased pain and potentially the risk of spinal fusion.

Southwark had decided that T could to look after herself, and would not suffer significantly more harm than any ordinary person rendered homeless.

The judge allowed the appeal, in which T was represented by Cambridge House Law Centre and Garden Court Chambers.

This was on the ground of a failure to engage directly with the doctor’s evidence.

She rejected though the submission that Southwark should have defined ‘significantly’ in the context of whether T was ‘significantly’ more vulnerable than the ordinary person if she became homeless.

The council has been contacted for comment.

Mark Smulian