Manual Street People Tales

Tales from the street: Coventry's rough sleepers speak out

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Tour guide shares tales of his life on the streets

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I could go to court and report the guy, but he asked for forgiveness the next day. After that I slept with men, I slept with women, I prostituted myself, it got serious. It fucked me for life, I swear. At 27 I became schizophrenic. Instead of helping me my family wanted to send me to foster care. On Christmas Eve I found her in my bed with her best friend, doing coke.

I took my stuff and got the hell out. I ended up in the street for 3 years. At one point I felt I had two choices, and I made the wrong one. I kept on living in debauchery. I really love books, I read all the time, and I used to collect old books, old editions. But I followed some negative influences; I say negative influences, but it was really up to me to choose whether I followed them or not. For a while, I ran into Gilles every Sunday afternoon. We chatted every time, and when it was time to say goodbye, I always got a hug.

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Tamsen Courtenay's conversations with 30 people sleeping on the streets of London uncover abuse and neglect, but also pride and heroism. The number of families affected by homelessness is expected to double by We asked people to share their experiences.

So one day I asked him:. I hug people because having positive feelings helps me.

She was too kaput, too drunk. I ended up alone, no job — I used to be a contractor. She dumped be, and I found myself with my boy who was three, my daughter two, and a small baby. I toughed it out for three months, on my own. It was too much work for one man alone, it was too hard for me, I did not have a choice, I called Youth Protection and had them adopted. And that broke my heart. I found myself a place to stay last month. My next goal is to furnish my place.

And to quit drinking. And life on the street is really tough so in the first six months people usually fall into that addiction. For me it was really during my first winter, I had never lived on the street and the first winter was insane. So I had no job and rent to pay.

Young Homeless Girl Living on the Streets of New York City.

I applied for benefits but the money got sent to the wrong account. Eventually it got sorted out but I then became ill. I withdrew from the benefits system because I found it too complicated to handle in my confused state. A few friends tried to help me, and one tried to help me access benefits. My relationship with my family became strained and I was taken into a local mental health hospital. Thankfully, I never slept rough or on the streets but I was close to sleeping in a park.

The whole experience was terrifying both times, not knowing where I was going to spend the night. I felt abandoned and alone. At times I had no one to turn to. I would ask friends if I could sleep on their floor. They came through for me at first but then the help ran out. You get so many knockbacks. I remember all my belongings being stuffed into a few bags I carried around with me.

Eventually things got better and I clawed my way back to sanity and got a good job. Safety nets can fall apart and I went into a downward spiral.

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I imagine the council pay it. For me it was really during my first winter, I had never lived on the street and the first winter was insane. I split up with my girlfriend, I let her have the flat and the kid and all that lot. How the van rampage unfolded moment by moment Roula Massin: Proceeds will go to the TorontoStrong Fund for victims. Everybody is doing it. And that broke my heart.

I would like to see an end to the stigma attached to homelessness. It can be a terrifying and devastating experience that no one should go through. I made a mistake when I was younger and got caught smoking dope. I ended up having to do a short prison sentence. After that I decided to leave my home town of Derby. I ended up living in a London Fields tower block with a friend. I started squatting and travelling.

Tour guide shares tales of his life on the streets

When I was in London I started taking drugs. That stopped me sorting myself out and finding a place. I ended up being homeless on the streets on and off. If they pity me, good. The only drug I use is tobacco. So, I told the guy, basically, to go away. It would be hard to get up in the morning. Why is it that foreigners come over, they get money to start their own business; they get the keys for the house.

A week later after the interview, Gary found work. It is nice to have some money in my pocket.

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I am going to get some food now. I am still homeless, but once I save up enough money from work, I will be able to rent a home again. I worked there for about seven years. I stayed at the Salvation Army one night and all my stuff got nicked. I keep bidding for property.

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You bid on a computer at the library for single properties. I imagine the council pay it.