Father's battle to get his disabled daughter the home she needs

The Lloyd family hasn't experienced much of the so-called "lucky country" we are often referred to as.

But after this story airs, things may just start to look up for them, and boy do they need a lucky break.

Richard Lloyd is a single dad-of-three teenage girls and it's his constant care of one of them that makes him a good candidate to be nominated for a "Father of the Year" award.

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His oldest girl, Maddison, suffers a rare brain defect that has left her unable to walk and talk since birth. 

The 19-year-old has never tasted food as she is tube fed and requires 24/7 care, which Mr Lloyd duly gives in spades.

"My goal is to have a quality of life for her and do things that you and I will do," Mr Lloyd told A Current Affair.

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Because he is her full time carer, Mr Lloyd can't work.

But when he has a few spare dollars, he takes Maddison out to experience the joys outside the confines of her room.

However, most of the time Maddison is trapped inside the small Department of Housing home that is just too small for Mr Lloyd, Maddy and his other teenage daughters - Chloe and Courtney.

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The kitchen is no bigger than a cupboard, the bathroom they all share and Maddison's room is hardly big enough for her wheelchair.

This is the way it has been for the 15 years they have lived there.

"It's really hard to watch Maddison just do, when I know they could make it a lot easier for her and that's all I'm asking of them," Mr Lloyd said.

He has written countless letters to the NSW Department of Housing, but keeps getting told there is nothing available for him and his girls.

The Department made a small extension to the bathroom but it had no hoists for lifting Maddison so Mr Lloyd had to pay for that. 

Her medical equipment must be stored under tarps outside because there is no room inside. 

Maddison has her physiotherapy on the dirty floor because there is no room for a table. 

The rest of the family trip and fall over her wheelchair or other equipment scattered throughout their tiny cottage.

A Current Affair spent a day seeing how they live and it was impossible not to bump into each other, or trip over wheelchairs, pullies, lifting devices and medication boxes.

"I've been patient over the years but with Maddison's complex needs it's 24/7 care and I don't have the time to whine and carry on." 

So, Mr Lloyd and the other girls just put up with it.

"He gives her lots of love and he battles and does everything for her," Courtney said.

"And he still provides for us," Chloe added.

And that's the way it has been for them all, particularly Mr Lloyd who sleeps just four hours a day because of the constant medication and other needs his darling daughter needs throughout the day and night.

A Current Affair got in touch with the Department of Housing in NSW and they have now prioritised Chloe and her family to be moved to more suitable accommodation.

A representative will be contacting them in coming days.

Let's hope so, because the so called "lucky country" should be able to do better.