Jordan Heron, 38, has been living in a single-bedroom flat at Rowena Court in Pentrebane for the last 18 years.
She is also a full-time carer to her daughter Lola, five, who is autistic.
Ms Heron told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the conditions of her flat and the wider block are not suitable for her daughter due to steep stairs, the echo, communal areas, and the fact her daughter is “not good with other people”.
She said: “When [Lola] has a meltdown she will throw her weight and throw herself down to the floor.
“There’s been times I’ve been carrying her because she won’t walk up the stairs and neighbours come down the stairs past me. She became really dysregulated [and] she tried to throw herself and we’ve nearly fallen down the stairs.”
She added: “It is basically like a waiting game. It’s not: ‘If it’s going to happen’ it’s: ‘When it’s going to happen’.”
Lola also struggles when she gets back from school.
Her mother said: “She’s coming home [from school] and she’s severely dysregulated.
“She’s stimming, she’s doing vocal stims, hand stims. She doesn’t know whether she’d laugh or cry.
“She’s obviously coming back and that’s when she needs to regulate and she can’t. She’s going from that busy environment in school to this flat and there’s nothing for her.”
Ms Heron said there was no suitable space for her daughter to run around and regulate herself.
Around Rowena Court the LDRS saw many types of litter including an empty mini-wine bottle and an empty can of cider.
While this would be unpleasant for any child to run around in, Lola has pica, which is a compulsion to eat non-food objects.
Due to the small size of the flat Ms Heron and her daughter are forced to sleep in the same bedroom but because of her daughter’s sleep schedule Ms Heron has resorted to sleeping on the sofa in the living room.
She has asked Cardiff Council to transfer her and her daughter to more suitable accommodation but she has been told it may be a long time until she can move.
However a council spokesman said Ms Heron and her daughter are now considered to have an urgent housing need and their situation is being dealt with accordingly.
Regarding the entire situation she said: “I don’t want people to look at me and say I just want a bigger home because it’s not the case.”
She continued: “I’m doing everything in my power to keep my child safe, to care for my daughter, and I’m put in an environment where this basically feels impossible.
“There’s no more I can physically do to keep her safe.”
Later she said: “It’s hard enough anyway raising a child with additional needs in this world. Then to have things like this, obstacles in the way, it’s just ridiculous.
“It’s not making our lives easier – it’s just making it worse.”
A council spokesman said: “We recognise the challenging situation Ms Heron is currently experiencing.
“Her current property was appropriate for her needs when it was allocated but the household’s circumstances and medical needs have since changed.”
They added: “Following receipt of additional information and further medical evidence Ms Heron is now considered to have an urgent housing need and her band on the waiting list has been updated to reflect the increase in priority.
“A referral has also been made to the council’s occupational therapy team in relation to any future offer.
“Unfortunately, even when a family’s needs change and they require a different home, any move is dependent on a suitable property becoming available. This can take time, particularly where more specific requirements are needed.
“Housing officers will work with Ms Heron to discuss all options, including expanding the areas of choice on her application and considering a mutual exchange or ‘home swap’ with another tenant, to help improve the chances of a quicker move.
“The council continues to work hard to increase the supply of affordable housing across the city including specialised housing for differing needs.
“All new council homes are built to meet accessibility and Lifetime Homes standards.”
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