A mum-of-four called for a change to the benefits system just months before taking her own life in her mould-ridden home.
Karen McBride, 46, was prioritised for rehousing after being "wrongly pursued" over benefits debt and declaring herself homeless, her family said at an inquest.
She struggled for years over money and "uninhabitable" living conditions, including black mould which caused dirt to come out of her and her children's noses, as well as pigeons nesting in the loft.
Her experiences of the system led to her becoming an integral part of the Poverty Truth Commission, launched by Greater Manchester Poverty Action, where she gave "inspiring" speeches campaigning against poverty.
In one particularly poignant speech, she said: "We need new systems which mean that everyone caught in this storm has a lifeline within reach - one that can pull us out of danger when we need it most. And that needs to cover all areas of public services."
As part of the Greater Manchester Poverty Monitor 2022, the commission also shared videos of Ms McBride speaking about the condition of her house in Stalybridge, Tameside.
She said: "I was supposed to view it on the same day as I was picking the keys up. And when I walked in the house I burst out crying. There was mould and the floor was flooded upstairs.
"Windows wouldn't lock, taps weren't working, it was just in a right state. They said if you refuse to accept the property, then you'll be making yourself intentionally homeless."
Ms McBride was found dead inside the property just months later, on August 1, 2022.
In a tribute on its website, the commission says: "Karen was a powerful advocate for change and a fierce champion of social justice.
"She recognised the importance of her voice, and the voices of others being heard."
The video comes after Ms McBride's daughter, Codie, said that her mum's struggles with the benefits and housing system "ultimately led to her death".
She told the inquest: "The mere fact that my mum had to be physically homeless in 2019 to even be considered a priority for the local authority housing and the trauma of living in such facilities, followed by the systemic and policy based failures in relation to the handling of my mum's benefit entitlement and the impact of the subsequent wrongfully pursued debt left her extremely vulnerable and ultimately led to her death."
The inquest heard that Ms McBride "began to feel disillusioned" because business and civic leaders, including Tameside Council, were "not turning up to arranged meetings, even though dates were arranged around their availability".
Codie said in her statement: "My mum was a kind, compassionate person who took the time to listen to everybody. She cared so much about others. She cared so much for us, her four children, who she worshipped.
"She instilled in us honourable traits, such as integrity and kindness. She was an awe-inspiring and powerful woman.
"She was a great teacher with a strong moral compass. My mum's ethos was compassion and kindness. She gave it out so freely, you would never know she had been given so little of it by others."
Coroner Mr Morris found Ms McBride didn't have a "sustained intention" to take her own life, describing her death as an "impulsive act whilst under the influence of alcohol".
He said the inquest highlighted the "complexities of navigating the benefits system" and that the evidence showed she was "frustrated to the point of desperation", but ruled that he didn't agree 'the state' should have been aware of a risk to her life.
"Karen was obviously deeply committed to using her experience to improve the lot of others," said Mr Morris. "She was described as someone who inspires awe - she was a remarkable woman."
Jigsaw Homes say Ms McBride was receiving support from a number of their services, including Inspire - which provided intensive support - and Money Advice, which was helping her with her housing benefit claim.
A spokesperson said: “We would like to pass on our condolences to Miss McBride’s family and friends. She was a strong advocate for the most disadvantaged in society and we worked closely with her on the Tameside Poverty Truth Commission.
“We understand from the evidence presented to the Coroner, that this was a complex and tragic case which involved a number of issues in Miss McBride’s life.
"We provided support services to Miss McBride before and after she moved into the property and we sped up the letting process so she and her family could move into a home, from bed and breakfast accommodation, before Christmas of 2019.
“We completed repairs to prepare the property for Miss McBride and her family to take up occupation. However, at the point of moving in, a leak was discovered which led to further repairs being required.
“We assigned a dedicated officer to progress Miss McBride’s repair requests and they co-ordinated all the repairs reported by Miss McBride and all outstanding repairs, bar one, were completed by the start of lockdown in March 2020.
“During the inquest, some issues were brought to light that we were not aware of, and we will take a full and thorough review of this case at a senior level."
A Tameside Council spokesperson added: “Our deepest condolences go to the family and friends of Karen McBride. The coroner found that no systemic failings by any organisation contributed to her death.
“The Council does not comment on individual cases, however reviews are undertaken in all such cases to see if any learning can be gained and improvements be made. In all cases benefits and council tax can only be assessed where information is available."
If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
