Successful
CHRIS Sylvester started using heroin aged just 12, and by the time he was a teenager he was registered with an addiction unit.
He spent time in prison and lived on the streets of Leeds after his release, where he would steal cars and drive around the country shoplifting.
But Chris, 37,
But campaigners say this is just the tip of the iceberg with as many as 320,000 people actually living without their own home.
Natalie Wells, client development manager at The Howarth Foundation, said investing in destitute people and giving them a positive future also helps save public money in the long run.
She said: “For decided to try and turn his life around and is now working as an ambassador for The Howarth Foundation,.
Chris is also a steward at Leeds Utd FC and is desperate to become a positive role model to his two daughters.
Chris said: “The only education I had when I left school was how to take drugs, but now I’m back at college and have ambitions.” every homeless unemployed individual that we get back into work, there is an immediate saving of around £60,000 to the taxpayer.
“Add to that the tax and NI paid by the individual and the relief to the NHS and law enforcement agencies, and the financial gain is vast.
“Business Building Futures is different to some of the other schemes, where employers work with the council offering employment, as we offer unlimited follow-up support for the employer through our family-run HR and employment law company, Howarths.
“This means we can immediately address any problems or issues should they arise, as well as ensuring the employer has the correct policies and procedures in place with a thorough induction when the client starts the role.
“This means we are doing everything in our power to nurture a successful relationship between the client and the employer from the very beginning.” SCOTT Mead admits he would probably be dead had he not been offered the life-changing opportunity to get back into work as a car valet.
Struggling with a drink and drug addiction, he was left homeless on the streets of Leeds, spending his days begging to raise the “hundreds of pounds” he needed to feed his habit.
He decided his life had to change and he has now THE word “homeless” conjures up images of people sitting in empty doorways, surrounded by damp blankets and cardboard signs.
But Britain’s 4,677 rough sleepers make up only a tiny fraction of our homeless population.
According to Shelter, there were 320,000 homeless people in the UK as of 2018.
At Beam, we believe all social problems can be solved if we work together.
Homeless people deserve a chance to work. We can all make that happen. Since been clean for two years. But the key to his recovery was an employer being persuaded to give Scott a job.
Scott, 44, said: “I knew that I’d either end up in prison, an institution or dead. When I did get clean, I wanted to work and when the opportunity came up I was nervous and I was scared, but I met people, who were all marvellous.
“It’s all about learning you can fit in anywhere.”