Former Nurse Olivia Hill Left Living in Tent After Council Deems Her Not a Priority for Housing
- Staff Correspondent
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
Olivia Hill, a 33-year-old former registered nurse from Glossop in Derbyshire, has been living in a camping tent on a public grass verge after High Peak Borough Council determined she is not in "priority need" for emergency housing. Hill, who has a documented history of severe and fluctuating mental health problems including borderline personality disorder, approached the council for support after becoming homeless.
According to reports, she was provided with a tent and food vouchers for Tesco and Greggs stores, which were issued in the car park of a B&M Bargains store. She has stated that she lacks cooking equipment for some of the food items supplied.
The council reportedly assessed her as "high risk" for shared accommodation due to her mental health and informed her that she did not meet criteria for hospital admission via NHS services.
Hill told local media that the council initially suggested she pitch the tent near Woodhead Reservoir in the Longdendale area. She described feeling "broken and distraught," noting the apparent contradiction of being considered too high-risk for housing but suitable for street living.Under the UK's Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and related housing legislation, local authorities must assess applications and provide help to those threatened with homelessness.
"Priority need" categories typically cover households with dependent children, pregnant women, or individuals deemed particularly vulnerable due to factors such as mental illness or disability. Those not in priority need receive advice and assistance but not necessarily temporary accommodation.High Peak Borough Council has not issued a detailed public response to the individual case in initial reports.
The story has been covered by the Manchester Evening News and national outlets including the Mirror, highlighting ongoing pressures on local authority housing services and support for adults with complex mental health needs who fall outside strict eligibility thresholds. Hill's situation underscores challenges in the current system where assessments can result in limited interventions for vulnerable single adults despite significant health histories. As of 2 July 2026, she remains in the tent on the grass verge in Glossop.
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