Shropshire Star

Man claims he's slept in tent for nine months after being refused home because of assistance dog

A man on disability benefits says he has been forced to sleep in a tent for nine months after he was refused a new home because of his assistance dog.

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Telford and Wrekin Counil have responded to the claims (stock image).

Jamie Benbow, who suffers from anxiety and ADHD, sleeps in the tent near to the golf course at the Telford Hotel in Sutton Hill with his dog 'Rebel'.

Mr Benbow says despite being homeless for the last nine months and in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) disability benefit, the local authority has refused to find him emergency accommodation because of his dog.

He said: "I moved back to Telford in September after a relationship breakdown and ever since then I have been sleeping in this tent near the golf course.

"I pack it up for every morning around 7am because if I leave it up people trash it. I give it my step-daughter's mum who looks after it in her house.

"Because of Rebel, which I have a red card for as she is my assistance dog that helps me cope with my anxiety, Telford & Wrekin Council say they won't rehouse me.