The Squeeze

Kevin and Tracey Brownhill have been using the lorry for the last fourteen months, living, eating and sleeping in it.

They got themselves into debt and sold their flat to pay off the loans secured on their property before they were repossessed. According to press reports, they had run up debts of £20,000 on credit cards, £18,000 on a car and £16,000 on holidays and clothes.

"I was paying finance on the vehicle and keeping payments on my mortgage and other things... it got out of control...and the company [Kevin's previous employer] went down owing us money and it all came together in a matter of six months", Kevin told us. 

Kevin lost his job as a truck driver and in order to see his daughter he could only work alternate weeks as a freelance driver.

Kevin outside his home.

"We tried to rent but estate agents weren't interested because of being self employed and my credit status." said Kevin.

The couple have a one ring gas stove to cook on, and sleep in the bed at the back of the cab.

"It's very tight with two of us living there, it's not the proper environment to be living in 7 days a week, 24 hours a day". Kevin explained.

"You're living in a 6 foot by 6 foot cube with a little gas canister to cook on", said Tracey.

Talking about his relationship with his local council, Kevin said, "I'm always in contact with them [the council] first of all I left it for a couple of weeks...still got told I wasn't a priority, and I kept chasing it up every month, and the last time I chased them up I told them I was going to the papers".

Kevin and Tracey's local councils gave the following responses to the story:

Dartford Borough Council

"We already housed this man a number of years ago when he had a relationship with someone else. He has since left this accommodation to acquire property away from Dartford... The couple met with a housing officer on one occasion back in April and appear not to have returned since. The council is focusing its efforts on people with a higher priority on housing."

Bexley Council

"It's very unlikely that we would have told Mr Brownhill he couldn't go on our waiting list because, since the Homelessness Act of 2002, anyone can apply to any council. I'm afraid we have no record of Mr Brownhill contacting us. We're happy to see him if he'd like to contact us."