Paul Growns became homeless in January 2022, and despite holding down a full-time job, can’t find a place that will take him and his beloved dogs – now he’s living in a car
A man living in his car claims he is being forced to choose between his beloved dogs and a permanent roof over his head.
In January 2022, Paul Growns became homeless, and despite working a full-time job, he is still living in his car with his pets more than two years later. Born and raised in Maidstone, Kent, he claims that he has not been offered temporary accommodation because the council said he was not in priority need
As well as that, almost all private temporary accommodation has a no pet-policy. The 45-year-old said his two dogs, Max and Toby, are his lifeline and he is not prepared to re-home them or put them down just to get a permanent roof over his head.
He said: “Being an animal lover, you can’t separate yourself from your animals because they’re family and they’re like your children while you’re homeless, because if you didn’t have them, you’ve got no-one. Places don’t accept pets, so you have a choice – you either stay homeless or re-home your pets.”
Maidstone Council said it instructed its independent reviewer to consider Mr Growns’ request to overturn the decision to find him a non-priority and is “awaiting the outcome”. The spokesperson also said the council is working with him and others to identify a suitable housing solution – however, Paul says he does not feel supported at all. He added: “I’ve been looking everywhere for an animal-friendly place to stay.”
His dogs, Max, a Dachshund, and Toby, a Jack Russell, are inseparable and Paul says they are his “absolute world”. Max who is seven, has been with Paul since his first day of homelessness, but currently has cancer. He said: “He’s my pride and joy at the moment.
“These dogs are the reason I’m still here at the moment, because if I didn’t have these, I don’t know how long I’d be here. They are keeping me going, they’re my rock and I’d be lost without them.”
Paul has been sleeping out of his car in country lanes, car parks, and lay-bys all while working full-time as a van driver which keeps his mind off things. However, the ongoing uncertainty of his situation has taken its toll on Paul .
Recently, he has been suffering with suicidal thoughts, having been signed off work for two weeks following a recent attempt to take his own life.He said: “Maidstone Borough council don’t seem to care; all they keep saying is go private rent and have your dogs rehomed or put down and unfortunately, I can’t do that. It’s an absolute disgrace how I’ve been treated.”
Aside from his battle to secure temporary accommodation, Paul says it is impossible to find social or private housing which allows him to live with his animals. Paul says not many properties come up for people like him and says he is “slowly giving up”.
On December 1 2023, Paul notified the council he wished to challenge the decision that he was not in the “priority need” category. Over Christmas, the council provided him temporary hotel accommodation, but this only lasted a few days before he was asked to leave because he was not allowed to leave his animals unattended while he went to work.
Five months have now passed, and he says his request for accommodation pending review was declined. Paul says he has sent endless messages to private landlords through marketplace and Facebook where he asks whether the listing is still available and accepts pet, but the response each time is “sorry no pets”.
All he wants now is a place to live with his animals. He said: “It is a disgrace the way people who are homeless who do have animals and pets are being treated by the local authorities. Most people go home every night to their family and dogs, and a nice warm bed – I wouldn’t know what that feels like anymore.”
