A homeless family-of-three and their two dogs are sleeping rough in their car in freezing temperatures after they had to leave their home and refused alternative accommodation.
Eliot Prest, 23, his father Malcolm Prest, 47, and sister Sapphire were offered alternative accommodation after racking up a "huge bill" with Hull City Council and being forced to leave their home.
But the family refused as Eliot, who struggles with disabilities and disorders including autism, ADHD, dismissive-avoidant attachment disorder and OCD, relies on Malcolm as his full-time carer, Hull Live reports.
The family say they have been freezing as temperatures hit -3C on Tuesday night, and are having to use the home of friends and family to shower.
Elliot said: "The council sent my dad a big bill for rent and bedroom tax without warning and it has forced him into having to give the house away.
"Since then, they have tried to split us up. We were in a temporary house and they put that on the bidding list and said even if we bid for it, we won’t get it.”
Elliot, Malcolm and Sapphire are now living in the family car, along with their two dogs.
Elliot says he has informed the council of their living situation but claims to have been told the best the council can do is offer them a flat to move in at the end of January.
"The council aren’t bothered about us over Christmas and New Year, we have to live in this car until January", he said.
"They had said they were going to try and get us three different hostels. I'm not allowed to be separated from my dad as he is my carer and upon hearing that they said there’s nothing much more they can do.”
Elliot thinks the reason they have been told to wait for so long is due to the three family members wanting to be housed together - but he thinks it's very little to ask to be housed with his full-time carer.
"If I had to get split up from him, I wouldn’t be able to cope", he said. "If I’m split up from my family it will be detrimental to my mental health.”
Until January, Elliot, Malcolm and Sapphire feel they have no option but to continue to live in their car.
"We have to go to friends and families houses to shower", said Elliot. "We have to eat sausage rolls and ready-made sandwiches; it’s costing an absolute fortune. It’s absolutely freezing as well.
"It was minus three last night, I got about two hours sleep. Truthfully, I’m not okay, but we have to do the best we can.”
A spokesman for Hull City Council said: "The council is working with the family to explore options available and resolve their housing situation.”
The Mirror has approached Hull City Council for further comment.
.png?w=600)
