"Living at the YMCA, I would say, is the best thing that could have happened to me...”
"Living at the YMCA, I would say, is the best thing that could have happened to me...”
Could you "be that person" for someone like Joe? When I arrived, I was very quiet and depressed – but I feel so much more confident and positive now.
Could you "be that person" for someone like Joe? When I arrived, I was very quiet and depressed – but I feel so much more confident and positive now.
"I worked during COVID at pharmacies. I was evicted under Section 21, I lost my job and managed to get a YMCA placement."
"I worked during COVID at pharmacies. I was evicted under Section 21, I lost my job and managed to get a YMCA placement."
"When I first moved in it was quite scary, I thought how am I going to get stuff sorted with no money. For the first 2 weeks I was sleeping on borrowed cushions on the floor..."
"When I first moved in it was quite scary, I thought how am I going to get stuff sorted with no money. For the first 2 weeks I was sleeping on borrowed cushions on the floor..."
"I was forced onto the streets, sleeping in abandoned buildings, cold and hungry, kipping on a mate’s sofa."
"I was forced onto the streets, sleeping in abandoned buildings, cold and hungry, kipping on a mate’s sofa."
There’s a building site where I squeezed through the metal fencing and that provided a roof over my head.
There’s a building site where I squeezed through the metal fencing and that provided a roof over my head.
“If I didn’t do things exactly as he wanted, he would smash things and spit in my face.”
“If I didn’t do things exactly as he wanted, he would smash things and spit in my face.”
I was a bit scared, because I didn’t know where to go… I had no friends, no family.
I was a bit scared, because I didn’t know where to go… I had no friends, no family.
I spent a night sitting on the pavement, I couldn’t sleep, you never know what could happen.
I spent a night sitting on the pavement, I couldn’t sleep, you never know what could happen.
I never really had a parent. My mum left me when I was 2 years old.
I never really had a parent. My mum left me when I was 2 years old.
I was moved to a B&B over Christmas. I just couldn't cope, back then. Now everyone can see that I want to be successful.
I was moved to a B&B over Christmas. I just couldn't cope, back then. Now everyone can see that I want to be successful.
I went 7 weeks without money. I just laid down anywhere just to go sleep.
I went 7 weeks without money. I just laid down anywhere just to go sleep.
I’ve basically been like a suitcase. I would’ve killed myself. What's the point in living homeless when you've got nothing?
I’ve basically been like a suitcase. I would’ve killed myself. What's the point in living homeless when you've got nothing?
