Former nurse Olivia Hill, 33, has been living in a tent on a grass verge in Glossop after High Peak Borough Council reportedly deemed her 'not a priority need' for emergency housing, despite her severe mental health struggles. Council workers handed her a tent and food vouchers, including for Greggs and Tesco, after she was told she did not qualify for shared accommodation due to being considered 'high risk' because of her mental health condition.
Council Decision and NHS Refusal
Ms Hill claimed she was labelled 'high risk' for shared housing due to her mental health condition. She also stated that the NHS refused to admit her to hospital as she failed to meet its criteria, leaving her stranded on the streets. She described feeling 'broken and distraught' and has no money, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Ms Hill said: 'I don't meet mental health criteria despite having an extensive mental health history including borderline personality disorder. Now they've left me with a tent and a food bag as I'm not a priority apparently for housing.' She added: 'The mental health team at the hospital won't admit me and the homeless team at the council won't house me because I'm a mental health risk. I'm apparently not eligible for a house, but a tent on public land is fine. It is disgusting from the local council in my opinion. How they can say I am not vulnerable, I have no idea.'
Homelessness Journey and Benefits
Ms Hill, a former registered nurse, became homeless at the beginning of the month after previously staying with family in Glossop. She spent time in a hostel in Manchester, then one in Cornwall, before returning to Glossop. She confirmed she is claiming benefits, currently the lowest amount of Universal Credit, and expects her benefits to increase next month. She said: 'I spent all my money on hostels and came back to Glossop with no money. I applied to High Peak Borough Council and told them that I was homeless and vulnerable, and had no money. I also told them that I had had hospital stays.'
She submitted a homeless application on June 9. In a document from the council provided to the Manchester Evening News, the local authority confirmed she had been 'issued with a not in priority-need decision'. The document stated it would proceed 'with trying to relieve your homelessness as part of the ongoing relief duty which has yet to come to an end'. The council ruled it was 'not satisfied' she was vulnerable 'as defined' and would refer her to a housing association for additional support in sourcing housing and placing bids for social housing.
Living Conditions and Welfare Checks
Ms Hill said she had no idea when the ongoing relief duty would end. She said: 'Instead, they brought me a tent and a sleeping bag and apologised. The homeless team will not house me in a shared home because they believe I am too high-risk because of my mental health.' The tent and food were handed to her in the car park of a B&M Bargains store. She explained she cannot eat some of the food due to having no cooking equipment, and was also given vouchers for Tesco and Greggs.
She said: 'I was sleeping in my car for three days before I got the tent. I have asked for emergency accommodation, but they said that I do not meet the criteria. I have no children and I am not fleeing domestic abuse. But I have been in mental health crisis on and off for a month. Apparently I do not need a hospital admission, but I am too unstable to go into a home. I do not know how the council can say I am not vulnerable. I have been completely failed by the NHS and local government.'
Ms Hill confirmed that the council's homelessness team continues to carry out welfare checks at her camping spot. The Mirror has contacted the council for comment.
