Olivia Hill, a 33-year-old former registered nurse, has been left sleeping in a tent on a grass verge in Glossop after being told by High Peak Borough Council that she is not a 'priority need' for emergency housing. She claims the council gave her a tent and food vouchers, including for Greggs, while the NHS refused to admit her to hospital, leaving her in limbo.
Council Decision and NHS Rejection
Ms Hill said she was branded as 'high risk' for shared accommodation due to her mental health, which includes borderline personality disorder. The council issued a 'not in priority need' decision on her homeless application, made on June 9, but said it would continue with 'relief duty' to help her find housing. Meanwhile, the mental health team at the hospital told her she did not meet criteria for admission and should be managed in the community.
"I don't meet mental health criteria despite having an extensive mental health history," Ms Hill told the Manchester Evening News. "Now they've left me with a tent and a food bag as I'm not a priority apparently for housing."
Living Conditions and Support
Ms Hill became homeless at the start of the month after living with family in Glossop. She spent time in hostels in Manchester and Cornwall before returning to Glossop with no money. She is claiming the lowest amount of Universal Credit and expects an increase next month.
The council initially suggested she pitch the tent around Woodhead Reservoir, near Longdendale. She was given the tent and a food bag in the car park of a B&M Bargains store, along with vouchers for Tesco and Greggs. However, she cannot consume some of the food due to lack of cooking equipment.
"I spent all my money on hostels and came back to Glossop with no money," she said. "I applied to High Peak Borough Council and told them that I was homeless and vulnerable."
Mental Health Crisis
Ms Hill said she has complex mental health needs and has experienced 'crises'. She asked to be admitted to hospital two or three weeks ago but was told she did not meet admission criteria. "They discharged me knowing that I was homeless," she added.
She said she has been sleeping in her car for three days before receiving the tent. She has asked for emergency accommodation but was told she does not meet criteria because she has no children and is not fleeing domestic abuse. "I have been in mental health crisis on and off for a month," she said. "Apparently I do not need a hospital admission, but I am too unstable to go into a home."
Ongoing Welfare Checks
Ms Hill said the council's homelessness team continues to check on her welfare where she is camping. The council's determination noted it would refer her to a housing association for additional support in sourcing housing and placing bids for social housing. Ms Hill said she does not know when the 'ongoing relief duty' will end.
"I have been completely failed by the NHS and local government," she said. The Manchester Evening News has approached High Peak Borough Council for comment.
