"Hewett expressed feelings of shame, stating, 'I was no longer able to take care of my appearance, which I had always taken pride in.' He described his daily struggles, saying, 'It was horrendous... People are so terribly judgmental.'"
"'Life has become so much more costly,' Hewett said, emphasizing that austerity and benefits freezes have worsened the situation for older individuals dependent on state support."
"'Pensioners should be enjoying their hard-earned retirement,' said Sarah Elliott, highlighting the plight of older people being uprooted from their communities due to soaring rents and inadequate support."
Richard Hewett, aged 59, faced homelessness after his relationship ended and his disability benefits were insufficient for housing. He resorted to sleeping in his car, which exacerbated his health issues, leading to an amputation. Hewett expressed feelings of shame and the negative impact on his mental health due to public judgment. The number of older individuals at risk of homelessness is rising, with many struggling due to falling housing benefits and increasing living costs. Shelter's chief executive noted that older people are being displaced from their communities into poor temporary accommodations.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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