Disabled RAF veteran forced to live in car after being told he can’t have council house

A disabled is living in his car after being told he does not meet the requirements for a council house in his hometown of .

Mark Jones, 58, who served in and now suffers from multiple health conditions, including the after zeffects of a brain tumour, haemorrhage, and stroke, says he has been left with no choice but to sleep in his Renault Captur.

Mark, originally from Nottingham, lived in Wiltshire for ten years before relocating briefly to the Shetland Islands last year.

He says Nottingham City Council informed him he did not qualify for the housing waiting list because he had not lived in the city for three of the last five years.

“I was born and grew up here; this is my home,” Mark told .

He added: “It’s scandalous that I’m not being prioritised in the place where I spent the first 48 years of my life.”

After a court judgment forced him to leave his Wiltshire home, Mark moved temporarily to the Shetland Islands, staying in an RAF friend’s spare room.

When his friend’s landlord could no longer allow him to stay, he returned to Nottingham, hoping for help.

It was in the midst of the moving out process that he contacted Nottingham City Council to ask about being added to the waiting list, having reconnected with a former romantic interest in the area.

But he claims he was told that he had to be a recent city resident in order to be considered.

Mark added that he was told his only option for temporary accommodation would be to return to the Shetland Islands or Wiltshire, which remains his local council area.

His family can’t help either because he’s lost his parents and fallen out with other family members.

The veteran now relies on disability benefits and is reportedly surviving on a packet of sausage rolls and crisps from Greggs each day.

Staff at the bakery kindly bring his food out to his car due to his limited mobility.

“I ration my food to try and make it through the day. For breakfast, I’m lucky if someone gives me a toastie. Lunch and dinner are whatever I can save from the sausage rolls I get,” Mark explained.

The veteran spends his days sitting in his car, occasionally listening to 80s radio, though he avoids using the battery for too long.

To stay warm, he runs the car engine briefly in the evening, then relies on a duvet to get through the night.

He also drives to a McDonald’s in Hucknall when he needs to use the toilet, as his mobility issues make public facilities difficult to access.

A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council told Express.co.uk: “We would encourage anyone wanting social housing in Nottingham to make an application to HomeLink. Once we receive an application, it is assessed, and we then write to the applicant to let them know whether they’re eligible to join the waiting list.

“A full copy of our is available on the HomeLink website, explaining all eligibility criteria. Anyone who is homeless can contact Housing Solutions for advice and assistance on 0115 876 3300.”