In 2015, retirement village resident Kevin Williams had been on a wait list for a Housing New Zealand property for two years.

Blenheim man Kevin Williams is 51 years old and living in a rest home.

He was forced into a home four years ago after his weight shot up to 300 kilograms and he developed type two diabetes.

He was no longer able to care for himself and had to start using a mobility scooter.

SCOTT HAMMOND/FAIRFAX NZ Blenheim man Kevin Williams, 51, has lived in retirement homes for four years after struggling to find his own place through Housing New Zealand.

Williams had since lost 70kg but until Housing New Zealand could find a suitable property in Marlborough, one with mobility scooter access, he was stuck at the Redwood Lifestyle and Care Village in Blenheim.

It was lonely and depressing being 51 years old and living in a retirement home, Williams said.

He said he would like to be able to cook his own food and go out at night without a curfew.

"I miss the freedom," Williams said.

Ministry of Health figures from April this year showed there were 448 disabled people under the age of 65 living in aged care homes.

A lack of modified Housing New Zealand properties in Marlborough meant that it was difficult for people with disabilities to find a state house.

Williams moved into a retirement home in Christchurch after his health deteriorated in 2011.

He had type two diabetes and weighed close to 300 kilograms at his heaviest. He also suffered from the lingering effects of a spinal injury that he suffered working in forestry as a 17-year-old.

Williams was hitting his medical alarm two to three times per week before he moved into a retirement home.

His doctor told him he needed to make some drastic changes to the way he was living.

"If I didn't get my diabetes under control, he said I wouldn't be around for much longer."

Williams moved from Christchurch to Blenheim two years ago to be closer to his sister.

Williams thought that by making the move he would have a greater chance of securing a Housing New Zealand property because of the demand for social housing in Christchurch following the earthquakes.

Four years down the track Williams had lost close to 70kg by making changes to his diet and cutting out takeaways.

He said a retirement home was a good place to be when he was unwell, but not now that he felt healthy enough to live independently.

Williams, who worked as a truck driver, took trips into town on his mobility scooter to take photographs of passing trucks.

He would like to be able to invite his truck driving friends over for a chat, but it proved difficult living in a retirement home.

"They say they can't really pull in and take up half a dozen car parks.

"If I had my own place they could pull up and have a cup of coffee or lunch."

Williams gave up truck driving five years ago because of his health.

"I loved it. I miss being out on the road.

"It was just the freedom, being up high in the air, higher than the cars, and meeting new people."

Williams planned to get a handheld radio so he could talk with his truck driving friends while they were on the road and catch up on their news.

He said it would be cheaper in the long run for the government to pay for him to live in a Housing New Zealand property, rather than a retirement home.

A Ministry of Social Development spokesman said Williams' was placed on the social housing register after his application was completed in December 2013.

Staff had been in regular contact to understand his specific housing requirements and would continue to support him until he was matched with a suitable house, he said.

Housing New Zealand tenancy services area manager Dale Bradley said Housing New Zealand had been actively searching for a suitable property for Williams for some time.

Williams required a modified house and there were very few in the Blenheim area, Bradley said.

A modified property was recently matched to Williams but an assessment by a Nelson Marlborough District Health Board occupational therapist determined that the property was unsuitable for him.

All other modified properties were tenanted, Bradley said.