A WOMAN with learning difficulties who was sleeping in her car has been left with nowhere to go after the vehicle was stolen.

Lizabeth Plumb, from Basildon, has been ‘sofa surfing’ with her daughter and friends along with sleeping in her vehicle since October, after the breakdown of her last relationship.

The 53-year-old, who has a number of health issues, almost died from sepsis last year. Her family say that she has been left suicidal by her experience since the theft of her car two weeks ago.

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Daughter Rebecca Plumb told the Echo: “In January Mum ended up in hospital with sepsis. She was in intensive care on life support for two weeks, with a 10 per cent chance of her making it through.

“She was then told she was being discharged after more than four weeks to my sister’s home on a short-term basis, which is where she has now been left for seven weeks.

“It is just heartbreaking, as this week she has nowhere to go, she can’t stay with my sister because of the lack of room but also the council tax - she is a single mum so if my mum stays there it changes all of that too.”

She added: “Mum can’t afford to rent privately, she has learning difficulties, and she has just come out of intensive care so she is suffering from that. She needs something stable and something on her own, she is 53 years old.

“All she keeps saying from the lack of help is why didn’t the hospital just turn her life support machine off. It is heartbreaking.”

Miss Plumb said the family were desperate for her mother to have somewhere stable to live. She and her sister Libby Plumb claim to have contacted Basildon Council several times asking for help and advice as well as filling out multiple forms, but say that they do not know where to turn next.

She added: “I’ve written letters to the council, I have filled the homeless forms, all on her behalf.

“But it is like going around in circles, we don’t get anywhere.”

A Basildon Council spokesman said: “We have been in contact with Miss Plumb several times to try and solve the current issues her mother is facing, offering assistance with completing the online forms, and advising on what accommodation options would be available.

“The council has discussed shared and private sector accommodation with Miss Plumb, and would be happy to assist with deposit, rent, and ongoing support to maintain her tenancy in the private sector if she would be willing to.”