30 job offers joy for homeless daniel
A HOMELESS man in Cardiff city centre carrying a sign appealing for work has received more than 30 job offers.
Daniel Smith said he had been inundated with offers of interviews, freelance jobs and trials since his story appeared in the Echo yesterday.
Daniel, who has been homeless for three weeks after falling short with his rent, said the response has been “amazing”.
“It’s been amazing, I’ve been offered jobs all over the country. I’ve had loads of people saying ‘come home, come back to Liverpool,’” said the 25-yearold.
“I’ve been offered jobs in places I’ve never even heard of.”
Daniel lived in Newport until he was 12, before moving to Liverpool. He moved back to South Wales three years ago and wants to stay here.
“I think I’ve been offered enough freelance opportunities to mean that I can stay here,” he said.
“I’ve accepted a freelance job for the weekend and then I have a trial on Monday and a similar situation on Tuesday – I’ve also been given tickets for a design event tonight, which should be good.
“I’ll be looking for a room sort of within a half-hour walk to town. I’ve also had offers of accommodation from everywhere too but some of them are too far away.”
Since these recent developments, Daniel is feeling optimistic.
“My phone has been constantly buzzing – I’ve had about 300 texts come through.
“Things are starting to look up.” Speaking about how he ended up on the streets, he said: “I had a normal childhood but when my parents got divorced everything kind of changed. I studied in Liverpool and I loved it, even though I was an outcast and I was bullied, I really learned a lot.
“I’ve always been interested in graphic design and designing games, so that’s what I’ve been doing since I finished school, and for the last three years I’ve been designing my own game.
“Life has always been on the edge for me because I have no family, but I’ve always managed to pull through and this time I fell short with paying my rent.”
Daniel said he was paying a landlady £90 a week to rent a room, but after an argument she evicted him within two days.
He said: “I purposely stay away from the city centre because most of the homeless people are up to no good and so many are on crack or spice.
“Drug dealers will come up to you and offer you the drugs but I’ve never had a problem with drug or alcohol addiction in my life. That’s why I sit underneath the bridge and read my books because I’d rather do something productive with my time.”
■ Daniel is open to any work and accommodation and can be contacted on 07523 711664.