We were homeless... but now we’re key workers
DOZENS of homeless people have become key workers this year after they turned their lives around during the pandemic.
Men and women across the country who started the year sleeping rough or sofa- surfing have worked on the front line throughout the festive season.
Father- of- eight Gaz, 35, first became homeless around 18 months ago when he separated from his long- term partner and was sofa- surfing until last July.
He now lives in Peckham, southeast London, and is working as a railway engineer.
Manchester- born Gaz said it was “absolutely amazing” to have been able to get a job and stable accommodation during the pandemic, and said his six- year- old daughter had inspired him.
He added: “My daughter looks up to me a lot and I feel like I’m doing her proud.”
Gaz, who turned to alcohol and even tried to take his own life while homeless, also heard from his mother for the first time in 13 years.
She called to tell him how proud she was of him when he got his job.
Proud
He said: “I feel so lucky to be in work, and having a stable income has meant I can support my local community – I donate money to struggling families and regularly donate to my local food bank.”
Supermarket assistant Giulia, 20, told how proud she felt going to work every day on the front line, saying it gave her a sense of purpose.
The Asda worker, who lives in Walthamstow, east London, moved around constantly as a youngster and failed to receive a basic education.
She became homeless aged 18 but found stable accommodation earlier this year after a stint of sofa- surfing at friends’ homes.
Giulia said: “I wouldn’t wish being homeless on my worst enemy. Every single element was terrifying for me – the lack of privacy, dignity and stability. When you have a stable home, it’s very easy to take it for granted – I’ll never take it for granted again.
“I feel proud going to work every day on the front line. It gives me a sense of purpose and I’m so grateful to have work when so many are without it.”
Warehouse operative Stelian, 36, became homeless in August, sleeping on the
streets of East Ham, east London, until he found a job with online grocers Ocado. He has spent the last few weeks packing groceries for customers gearing up for Christmas.
He said: “Work has been empowering, particularly this year when so many people have lost their jobs. It’s something I’ll never take for granted.” Stelian, who was born in Romania, was able to
move ove into permanent accommodaaccommoda tion at the start of December.
He said turning his life around this year was “the best thing that’s ever happened”, adding: “The support I have received from total strangers means so much and I can’t say in words how amazing it has been.”
Support
Father- of- two James, 52, used to sleep rough in a park, but has worked two jobs as a security guard in London since April to support his wife – a cancer survivor shielding from the virus.
James said getting a job during the pandemic has been “beyond lifechanging”, adding: “Not just in a financial and practical sense, but it’s also lifted my spirits and showed me that I can continue to better myself.”
Gaz Gaz, Giulia Giulia, Ste Stelian and James – who would prefer to keep their surnames private – were all supported into work by Beam, a social enterprise that crowdfunds job training for the homeless and supports them getting into stable work.
More than 200,000 households were predicted to experience “the worst forms of homelessness” this Christmas, including sleeping on the streets, according to Crisis, the national homelessness charity.
Separate research for the housing charity Shelter showed 1.4 million families in England were worried they would become homeless as a result of the pandemic.
A spokesman for Beam said: “Some of the UK’s most essential workers were homeless only a matter of weeks ago. Thanks to Beam, they’ve been able to find their feet.”