For Joanne, finding a settled home with Local Space marked the end of a long and uncertain housing journey and the start of a more secure and fulfilling chapter of her life. 

Joanne lives in Chadwell St Mary in the borough of Thurrock, on the outskirts of Grays, in a one-bedroom bungalow she has called home since early 2015. What began as a move during a challenging period has since become a place of stability, connection and belonging.

Facing uncertainty 

Joanne and her wife, Nohmy, met at university and were together for more than three decades. They married in 1990 and built their life in London before settling in Stratford. 

As Nohmy’s health began to deteriorate, her disability progressed and Joanne made the decision to give up work to become her full-time carer. 

“We’d been together since university and I wanted to be there for her,” Joanne explained. “But as her needs increased, stability became really important and our circumstances changed very quickly.” 

Through the local authority, Joanne and Nohmy were placed in temporary accommodation while they waited for a suitable long-term home to be identified. Accessibility was a key requirement, and it took time for the right option to become available. 

After a referral through Newham’s housing allocations process, Joanne was invited to view a newly built development in Thurrock owned by Local Space. 

Finding the right home 

From the moment they arrived, Joanne knew the bungalow was different. 

“It was brand new, wheelchair accessible and it just worked,” she said. “It felt like somewhere we could finally settle and just be at home together.”

The bungalow provided level access and space that met Nohmy’s needs, while also offering flexibility for the future. Both Joanne and Nohmy were named on the tenancy, something Joanne says gave them both reassurance. 

“This house became incredibly meaningful to us,” she said. “It gave us security at a time when everything else felt uncertain and it allowed us to focus on each other.”

Nohmy lived in the bungalow for around 18 months before she passed away in 2016. For Joanne, having that settled home during her wife’s final months was invaluable. 

“If we had known this home was waiting for us, it would have eased a lot of the worry we experienced before,” she said. “In many ways, this house feels like her legacy to me.” 

A place to belong 

More than ten years on, Joanne continues to feel deeply settled in her Local Space home and the surrounding community. 

“The area suits me perfectly,” she said. “I’ve got open space, access to local services and good connections when I need to travel. It’s a real balance.” 

The bungalow sits within a small development of Local Space homes. Over time, Joanne worked with Local Space to help improve shared spaces, including shaping outdoor areas so they worked better for residents of different ages. 

“That sense of working together has been important,” she said. “It feels like a place where people care.”