A homeless woman, Olivia Hill, shared her experience of receiving a tent and food vouchers from council workers after being informed that she did not qualify as a ‘priority need’ for emergency housing. Hill, 33, stated that due to her mental health condition, she was deemed “high risk” for shared accommodation and was denied admission to the NHS for not meeting their criteria, leaving her without a place to stay.
Currently residing in a tent in Glossop, Ms. Hill expressed her frustration at being provided with minimal support despite her severe and fluctuating mental health issues. She criticized the local council for not considering her vulnerable enough for housing assistance, emphasizing her extensive mental health history, including borderline personality disorder.
Formerly a registered nurse, Ms. Hill found herself homeless after staying with family in Glossop, then in hostels in Manchester and Cornwall. She emphasized her complex mental health needs and past crises, highlighting her struggle to secure stable accommodation.
Despite claiming benefits, specifically the lowest amount of Universal Credit, Ms. Hill revealed her financial struggles and unsuccessful attempts to obtain hospital admission for her mental health issues. She described feeling abandoned by both the NHS and the local council, who deemed her ineligible for priority housing assistance.
In response to her homelessness application, the council issued a decision stating that she was not in priority need but would continue efforts to address her homelessness. Ms. Hill expressed uncertainty about the timeline for receiving further assistance, criticizing the council for providing her with a tent and food vouchers instead of suitable housing options.
Acknowledging ongoing welfare checks by the council’s homelessness team at her camping location, Ms. Hill highlighted her dire situation and the inadequate support she had received. The Mirror reached out to the council for a statement on the matter.