Man forced to sleep in his car for a year after east London council fails to find him housing

"A man was forced to sleep in his car for more than a year after Redbridge Council failed to find him new housing. He ended up on the streets in June 2023 and lived in his car until November 2024, during which time he was attacked on several occasions. Following a review by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Redbridge Council was ordered to pay him a total of 1,900 in compensation."

"The man, identified in the ombudsman's report only as Mr X, first approached the town hall in June when he was briefly staying with a friend after being evicted. It wasn't until September that the council told him it owed him a relief duty, meaning it would help secure him accommodation, but he was not in priority need and would need to sort his own affairs. He disputed the officers' decision and provided the council with further medical information the following January."

"However, the council's statutory duty to find him accommodation ended in May, pending an appeal. During that month, Mr X was attacked twice in three weeks. He did not report these incidents to the police but his doctor reported seeing bruising and a black eye. He formally complained to the council in October, arguing he would not have been sleeping rough nor would he have been attacked if the council had acknowledged he was vulnerable and found him housing."

Mr X became homeless after eviction in June 2023 and slept in his car from June 2023 until November 2024 after failing to obtain council housing. Redbridge Council initially recorded that it owed him a relief duty in September but classified him as not in priority need, requiring him to manage his own affairs. Mr X provided further medical evidence in January and appealed the decision, during which the council's duty lapsed in May. He suffered at least two attacks in May and later complained, leading to a November review that found him vulnerable and offered accommodation. The ombudsman ordered 1,900 compensation.

Read at www.standard.co.uk