'I'm 75 but lack of houses left me sleeping in gardens'

Terry Hill, 75, said he spent four months sofa-surfing and sleeping in gardens this year

The last thing on Terry Hill's mind when he returned to the UK was that he would end up sofa-surfing and sleeping in gardens.

The 75-year-old returned to Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, in August from the Philippines, but has struggled ever since to find anywhere to live.

"Mostly I've been staying in somebody's garden. Somebody let me stay in their summerhouse for a month," he said.

Herefordshire is currently the worst area in the West Midlands for affordable housing, according to its local authority, which said it was exploring using its own land for low-cost housing and rented accommodation.

Community project Warm Welcome offers users a hot meal and a chance to speak to housing and public health officers

Mr Hill said he had now secured a six-month lease on a one-bed flat, but was still waiting to find out if he had secured housing benefit.

It came after he attended local community project Warm Welcome, where staff said they were helping increasing numbers of people with housing issues or homelessness.

"You get no help from anybody, apart from places like this," Mr Hill said.

Warm Welcome has been run by councillor Milly Boylan for more than two years

According to Herefordshire Council, more than 150 households in the county are currently living in temporary, emergency accommodation.

Open every Wednesday for four hours from 10:00 GMT, Warm Welcome offers users a hot meal and a chance to speak to housing and public health officers.

Unaffordable housing was a common issue, according to founder and councillor Milly Boylan.

"Rent is dearer in Ross-on-Wye than other parts of the county. And yet the housing benefit rate is set county-wide", Ms Boylan said.

"The government needs to look at it. It's almost like people are being forced to leave their communities... because they literally cannot afford to live where they were born."

Self-employed photographer Caz Holbrook said she had been living in temporary accommodation with her 14-year old son for seven months

Seven months after she and her 14-year-old son became homeless, single mother Caz Holbrook said they were still struggling to find somewhere to rent privately.

A self-employed photographer, Ms Holbrook had been in temporary accommodation in Ross-on-Wye since April and said the private rental market was "completely unaffordable" for single-income households.

She claimed the stay in the unheated one-bed flat has affected their health.

"We've both had really nasty chest infections, possibly from no heating in the flat," she added and said they were now on the council's housing priority list.

"We were issued with a section 21 [eviction notice] by my landlord last year. We had six months to find somewhere, but just literally can't afford private rental. It's upwards of £850 for a two-bed property."

Herefordshire councillor Carole Gandy said the county council was looking to unlock its own land for affordable housing

With average house prices almost ten times (9.8) that of average earnings, Herefordshire is currently the worst area in the West Midlands for affordability, according to its local authority.

Lower than average wages are also a key factor. Figures show this stands at £27,500 in Herefordshire compared to £33,176 nationally.

While a new homeless shelter for rough sleepers was opened in Hereford last week, earlier this month the county council abandoned £19.7m plans for a "strategic housing development" as it said it was not an "immediate priority".

But its cabinet member for adults, health and well being, councillor Carole Gandy, said the authority was still looking at whether it could provide affordable housing on its own land.

"Immediately after Christmas, we are going to be looking at sites," she said.