A YOUNG couple who lost their jobs have been sleeping rough in a car for more than a year.

Emily Gribbin, 21, and Brandon Wood, 22, have been living in their Skoda Fabia and battling through the pandemic with no money to their name.

The pair, who lost their jobs as they couldn’t afford to pay for petrol to get to work, have been washing in nearby shops and relying on weekly food parcels.

Now the couple are accusing Basildon Council of failing to help them in their struggle.
Officers are understood to have visited their car, in the town’s Matalan car park in

Cricketers Way, but the pair were out on a walk at the time.

Staff accused Emily and Brandon of lying about where they are sleeping, they claim.

The council say it has been in touch with the couple again this week. 

Emily, who starts a childcare apprenticeship at Basildon Hospital from Monday, said: “It’s been horrible, and really tough on our mental health.

“We lost our jobs in December, we couldn’t afford to pay for petrol. They didn’t know about our situation at all.

“We’re relying on a lady dropping us off food once a week. We’ve got crisps and biscuits to eat at the moment. We spend most of our day on walks, or kicking a football around.”

Emily slammed the council for their lack of support, adding: “To be told that we are lying is a bitter pill to swallow. We just weren’t there at the time.

“Brandon has been offered temporary accommodation, but without me. He has to apply by himself.

“They haven’t authorised us as homeless. They were blunt and made us feel really belittled.”

The pair were left homeless after overcrowding at the family home.

A Basildon Council spokesperson said: “Basildon Borough Council and its partners have visited the location on several occasions throughout the course of last year.  

“Despite these visits taking place at varying times of the day and into the small hours of the night, the couple were unfortunately never there at the time, so could not be verified. 

“We have been in contact with the couple this week and will make continued endeavours to verify and support them. 

“We continue to engage with, and offer support to verified Basildon rough sleepers. Over the course of the last year we have assisted over 70 people who were, or at imminent risk of street homelessness.  Many of these have already been successfully supported to move into their own tenancies.”