Liverpool City Council failed to help homeless man, watchdog finds
- Published
The council "did not carry out an assessment, provide advice or take any action" before closing the case, the LGO said
A council's delays in dealing with a man's housing application left him homeless and sleeping in a car for months, a watchdog has found.
The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) said Liverpool Council failed to help the man, referred to as Mr X, despite numerous attempts by him, his family and charities to resolve his case.
It ruled the authority's faults had caused him an "injustice".
Apologising, the council said it abided by the LGO's recommendations.
The LGO report, external said that in summer 2021, Mr X's landlord changed the locks on the home he shared with his four children while he was abroad, before letting it to someone else and disposing of his possessions.
'Not persuaded'
It said the man stayed with his sister for about a year, but later had to move out and ended up sleeping in his car for eight months.
It found that the council "did not carry out an assessment, provide advice or take any other action before closing Mr X's case in February 2023".
"The council was aware at this stage that Mr X was living in his car and that on occasions, his 16-year-old son also spent the night in the car with him," the LGO said.
They found Mr X's family had contacted the council on two occasions, but there was no record of any council response.
They said on another occasion, a council response which asked Mr X for his medical details was sent to the wrong email.
They added that while communication with Mr X had not been "straightforward", they were "not persuaded the council took sufficient action to advise or support Mr X, or to ensure he understood what was required to progress his homelessness application".
They found the delays meant the man had to live in his car "longer than he otherwise would have".
The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the council was ordered to pay Mr X £500 in recognition of the distress, uncertainty and difficulties he had experienced.
In a statement, Liverpool City Council said it was "sorry for the distress that was caused in this case and have abided by the recommendations of the Local Government Ombudsman".
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