Homeless man ejected

A CARE-LEAVER has spoken out after accusing a Runcorn homeless hostel of unfairly turfing him out and leaving him sleeping rough.

Marc Steele, 19, had been staying at Creative Support on Halton Lodge Avenue since June but was told to leave last Tuesday, September 11.

He said the management had said his mental health condition, for which he takes anti-psychotic medication, was too ‘extreme to handle’.

Mr Steele added that an incident had taken place outside his flat the night before he was ejected, but had nothing to do with him and he had been ‘ drinking hot chocolate’ and staying out of it.

Since then he said he has been sleeping at locations including Runcorn Hill and Spike Island, plus a night at his girlfriend’s uncle’s.

When the Weekly News spoke to him, he had pinned his hopes on a meeting with specialist emergency accommodation and mental health support service Nightstop Communities North West.

Mr Steele said he wanted to draw attention to what can happen in the supported housing system and the plight of those who slip through the cracks and the reasons why.

Discussing his mental health, he said: “I’m getting support, it’s not been an issue.

“I was given 10 minutes to get my stuff, you’re supposed to get an hour.”

On the incident outside at the hostel and his determination not to become involved, he said: “I had every right to but I didn’t.

“I stayed in the flat and kept myself calm. “I was trying to block it all out.” He added: “I’m in Runcorn, I’ve been sleeping rough on the streets. I’ve got no family or friends. My girlfriend managed to get me to stay at my girlfriend’s uncle’s which was a surprise, it was the first place I’ve that’s dry and warm for a week.

“They made me feel unwelcome and unsafe in the only place I have to call home.

“I’m reporting it to the paper so people understand what young people with mental health go through – I had an exemplary record there.

“I’ve been literally sleeping everywhere – Runcorn Hill, Spike Island, anywhere I find with a bit of cover.”

Don Owen, Creative Support service manager, said: “We cannot make a comment as we have a responsibility to protect the confidentiality of details relating to cases which are often very complex.

“Due to client confidentiality we are unable to disclose any details regarding this specific case.”