Sophie, from Eastbourne, suffers very debilitating challenges due to her medical condition. Her current housing situation compounds her burdens. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and functional movement disorder (FMD), Brannigan’s mobility is severely limited, making her current home—a property located up three flights of stairs without a lift—an increasingly difficult environment in which to live.
Brannigan adapted her house with community resources to ensure her independence and quality of life. Yet despite her tireless advocacy and unmet needs, she describes herself as “hopeless, trapped and isolated.” Her emotional health pays the price for this struggle. She rages against the impossibility of handling what lies ahead each day, given her changed physical reality. Previously, she had worked at a school for children with special needs and loved socializing and traveling. Now, her circumstances have drastically changed.
“I’ve always been an on-the-go, adventurous kind of person,” Brannigan remarked, reflecting on her previous lifestyle. These days, a good part of her week goes toward planning around the way she’s going to get up and down her stairs. This new reality has enormously curtailed her ability to continue doing the things she loved.
In 2024, Brannigan too readily sought out public housing. Though she insisted on the need for a more suitable property, Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC) unfortunately refused her application, claiming the property sufficiently covered her needs. In reply, she made a complaint and was later put on the social housing list in October 2025. This decision comes in the context of a growing housing waiting list. Seventy-two others, including Brannigan, are competing for acres in her musical ensemble.
Brannigan’s plight has captured the sympathy of local leaders. Now Josh Babarinde, her Member of Parliament, has acted by taking her case to the borough council. Today he is advocating for better infrastructures of support for those going through what he went through.
Babarinde reiterated her call for the schools to provide deeper support. With this support, people like Sophie will be able to find and stay in the permanent supportive housing they deserve.
Brannigan’s also been a tireless navigator of this confusing, double-edged sword. She is still hopeful that a resolution will put her back on the path toward independence. The delay in receiving adequate housing exacerbates her sense of being trapped and alone. This is simply unacceptable and underscores the need for systemic changes to our housing sector, especially for those living with chronic health conditions.
