Huntly campaigner for fair treatment for recovering addicts battles the stigma of his own past life for decent housing
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A HUNTLY man who campaigned for fair treatment by authorities for recovering drug addicts believes that the stigma of his past life has affected his treatment by Aberdeenshire Council's housing service.
Former addict, Stuart Bowie, 50, spent time in prison for drug offences but while inside turned his life around, even helping other prisoners tackle their addictions.
On his release, in 2014, he chose to live in Huntly to be able support his 72 year old mother who has MS, and was given emergency accommodation in a flat on Lumsden Court before being allocated a flat on East Park Street.
But despite being promised that the second flat would be upgraded, seven and a half years on he has had to move as the council and contractors have failed to fix defects.
His bedroom at East Park Street had black mould caused by damp penetrating due to leaky gutters and while gutters on other blocks were repaired his were ignored.
The boiler, due to be upgraded in 2016 was condemned last year - the heating only worked for the two months of his tenancy.
Officials said Mr Bowie had not co-operated to allow contractors into the property to repair the heating but it later emerged they had used an incorrect e mail address. The same incorrect e mail address was used to order a Covid test for Mr Bowie, required before the contractors could enter his property.
Mr Bowie has a very severe stammer and dislikes making telephone calls. During a call to one contractor, he became aware that the person had not been listening to him - when she asked him to repeat what he had just said, he felt forced to hang up.
As the delays went on, Mr Bowie developed a serious lung infection, his weight dropped and his mental health deteriorated.
Mr Bowie said: "When I arrived in Inverurie on the very first day after my release I could sense that they did not want to be bothered with me - they said they had been forced to have me.
"They took no account of what I had achieved and when I got the keys to Lumsden Court I was told that I would not be given any choice in future housing, I could take it or leave it.
"I was co-chairman of the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership Central Aberdeenshire Forum fighting the discrimination faced by people coming out of addiction and the stigmatism enforced by agencies that should know and act better.
"I even wrote to every MP/MSP to put pressure on the SNP to provide more funding and got it yet all the while allowing myself to be discriminated against by our own local authority."
Mr Bowie has now been re-located by Aberdeenshire Council and a spokesman said: “We have been in regular communication with Mr. Bowie regarding his concerns and have arranged alternative accommodation while essential repairs are being made to his home. Mr. Bowie is being kept informed of any progress.”
