Half Of Disabled People Leaving Their Homes For 'Warm Spaces' This Winter

Laura Smith (second from right) with her husband and their two children. “I’m trying not to panic but we are not managing,” says nurse Laura Smith, who lives with her husband Neil, a social worker, and their two children. “I don’t know how this is going to resolve itself.”The 38-year-old from Rugby lives with multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition which can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of symptoms from vision problems and fatigue to muscle spasms and issues with balance.The cost of living crisis – combined with the fact Laura spends a lot of time in and out of hospital, which impacts the number of hours she’s able to work – is leaving her family struggling to pay the bills.They save money where they can, with Laura and Neil regularly having soup for meals as it’s less expensive, but they’re still in a desperate position.Like many people in the UK, the family has been impacted by rising energy costs, but not putting the heating on isn’t an option for Laura as it