I was forced to quit my Tesco job & couldn’t pay rent so I moved into my car – now I’m shelling out for parking tickets
A MAN who moved into his car after failing to afford rent has revealed he's gotten parking fines while searching for a place to sleep.
Alan Jukes, 65, has lived out of his Renault Clio for the last two months after a dodgy shoulder forced him to quit his job as a Tesco driver.
He has now received parking fines at Newcastle Morrisons and Stafford Services adding more stress on the reality of being homeless.
Alan used to live in Longton before his shoulder injury forced him to leave his job at Tesco and left him unable to pay rent.
The grandad then moved in with a relative only for them to go into a care a year later, leaving Alan without a roof over his head.
Since living in his car, Alan has turned down three properties offered to him by Aspire Housing.
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However, he rejected one of the offers because Aspire wanted £500 upfront and he did not have any friends or family in town, he said.
I’ve worked hard for over 40 years and this is how I get treated
Alan Jukes
After he turned down one of the properties, Newcastle Borough Council confirmed that he remains on their housing register but no longer needed to house him in a hotel at taxpayers' expense.
Councillor Gill Heesom, cabinet member for community safety and wellbeing, said: "We work closely with Aspire Housing and Mr Jukes remains on the housing register and can bid for properties.
"He has also been pointed towards other housing providers."
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The council said they confirmed to the housing association that they would cover the £500 deposit as he couldn't afford it but Alan still rejected the property.
Yet, Alan is disappointed in the council and feels as if he is "fighting against the system".
"I’ve worked hard for over 40 years and this is how I get treated," he added.
His Renault Clio is not big enough for Alan to sleep properly and claims his "shoulders, back and hips are knackered".
Alan recently required treatment at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and an older persons outreach team has notified the council about his treatment.
The ex-Tesco employee said claiming benefits is an uphill battle with "no break of light anywhere".
However, above all, Alan wants to be treated like everyone else and is fed up with the council's treatment of him.
"I just wanted to be treated like a human being," he said.
Aspire Housing director of communities Alun Bragg claimed to be aware of Alan's current situation and has worked closely with the council to "find a suitable home that meets his needs".
The Sun has contacted Aspire Housing and Newcastle Borough Council for comment.
It comes after a TikTok star revealed he was forced to live in his car despite earning £56,000.
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And an NHS ambulance worker said he wouldn't survive the winter in his tiny car after being made homeless.