A TERMINALLY ill father forced to live in his son's front room says he has given up hope of ever being rehoused.
David Richards, who has been given eight months to live, struggles to leave the small room at his son's house in Westward Road, Chingford, where he washes with a bowl of water and uses a chemical toilet as he cannot climb the stairs.
The Guardian last year highlighted the plight of the 67-year-old, who is suffering from lung and bone cancer.
Despite being classified as a top priority by Waltham Forest Council after spending six months in hospital recovering from a stroke, Mr Richards was later told he had been removed from the waiting list because he did not fill out a renewal form.
He has not been contacted by the council since this newspaper published the story in December. Mr Richards said: "I have given up hope, I did so months ago.
"I have all these things to contend with and I'm expected to harass the council to do their job as well. I feel defeated.
"I would like to go somewhere comfortable and nice for my last few months, but the council won't do it."
"The council couldn't care at all as far as I'm concerned, I can see they show no care for people in my position."
His son, also called David, 27, added: "He's totally given up, it feels hopeless. I don't know what else we can do."
The Guardian is awaiting a response from the council.
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