Homelessness In Portsmouth

TUESDAY 21^ST FEBRUARY 2012. Tonight Courtney came out with me and we see TINNY, CHRIS, JAMIE, TIMOTHY and IAN. We also met up with a lovely lady with offer of help.

Very cold and windy tonight but a special kind hearted lady still came out to meet with us. Linda followed me on twitter and then we started to email each other. Linda kindly offered her help and asked what sort of help I needed, I explained that I need soup, crisp and other non perishable foods as I am running low on supplies and also clothing and blankets.

Linda and I arranged to meet at the hard as she had some food and bits and she also collected some from other people she knows, she wanted to get them to me. What a lovely lady she is, I introduced her to Tinny, Jamie, Chris and timothy, and explained to them that she is helping with raising awareness of homelessness and also helping with food supplies.

Speaking to Chris, he was telling me that some kids stole 2 bags of his belongings and burnt his sleeping bag the other day, he only went to the toilet and when he came back his sleeping bag was in ashes. Why are people so cruel ??? Tinny was telling us about his life in foster care and how much it affected him, poor sod.

I drove round to Linda’s car where she off loaded all the goodies, I was so happy knowing that I can continue to feed these people. Linda wanted to come on our rounds with us so she followed in her car as mine was full to the brim.

I took her to Palmerston road and Osborne road but we found no one about. Linda wanted to do this again with me and I am happy to have her come along, Linda is going to follow me around for a couple of weeks so she gets to know the round that I do and she said she would be happy to cover me when I go on holiday which was a great relief to me.

Linda went on her way and Courtney and I carried on, we only found Ian after that but it was a relief to see him. Haven’t seen Ian for a few weeks now so finally finding him made my day. He tells me that he has been about but we obviously keep missing each other. He said he will be around next Tuesday so I will look hard..

Looking forward to meeting up with Linda next week………

TUESDAY 14^TH FEBRUARY 2012. Only 5 about this evening, TINNY, CHRIS, JAMIE, PAUL and the American guy TIMOTHY

Tonight I picked up young Courtney and went on our travels around Portsmouth. Di was unable to come tonight but Courtney was willing.

We firstly went to Mill House to see if they wanted any bread as my local bakery gave me so much today I had no room in my freezer. Mark, who works at mill house was very appreciative and said he will give it out at the dinner table tonight. I told him that I will bring down bread regular if it helps and he said it would so I will. Mark gave me his phone number and told me to call him if I have any concerns or worries about anyone I find sleeping rough.

We went to the Hard to see Jamie, Tinny, Chris and Timothy. Jamie tells me that there is a good chance that he should have a room in a house this time next week, I told him ill sort him some bedding and stuff out as he doesn’t have anything except what he sleeps with on the streets. We gave them some soup, coffee, sandwiches, cakes, crisps etc and had a chat with them. I felt so sorry for them tonight as poor Tinny has pleurisy again and Jamie and Chris are both full of flu. When I got back in the car I phoned Mark to tell him I was worried about them, especially Tinny. Mark told me that he can’t help Tinny as he has a home, I told him that he doesn’t have a home and I could show him the places where he sleeps. Mark is going out to see him later.We went on our way to Osborne road.

Only Paul around tonight, he hasn’t seen anyone else for a couple of days, he thinks that the council van driving around is helping people find shelter in this cold weather. I hope this is the case.

Carried on driving about but no one else to be found, its becoming very quiet these days, perhaps they are in shelter…

TUESDAY 7^TH FEBRUARY 2012. Hardly no one about tonight, only see TINNY and PAUL.

Di couldn’t make it tonight so it was just myself and Courtney.

Tonight is the coldest night yet I feel, that’s probably why everyone is in hiding. Tinny wasn’t sure where anyone else would be but we looked around the streets anyway just in case there was any more rough sleepers that we haven’t found yet.

Courtney and I walked around the hot walls in old Portsmouth to see if anyone was there but there wasn’t, we also went to palmeston and Osborne road but only found Paul. We asked him if he had seen anyone but he hadn’t seen any homeless guys all day.

We continued to drive but too cold for them tonight, just hope to god they have shelter for the night……

THURSDAY 2nd FEBRUARY 2012. Only see 5 of our usuals today, SEAN, TINNY, CHRIS, JAMIE and we also bumped into STEVE (20^th DECEMBER) and JIM (23^rd NOVEMBER).

I had the day off work today so I decided to go to central point down Kingston road to see if they knew anything about the whereabouts of Phil and mark. I spoke to a lady who took my phone number and said she will contact me if she here’s anything. I went back home to make a bakewell tart and some scotch eggs for the lads tonight as I promised if I had the time I would make them some. Later on I had a phone call from central point, it was the manager, Leon. He just wanted to let me know that Phil and Mark are both safe and well and also housed now, I was so relieved to here this news. Whilst talking Leon asked me what I do exactly so I explained all to him and said I was independently doing this as I enjoy it. He asked if he could email me dates for meetings and said it would be good if I could attend. I agreed as I would get to meet all that are involved ie. Wardens etc..

It is an extremely cold evening tonight so we made sure we dressed extra warm. Harriet is helping tonight as Liam is doing his college course work.

We went to the hard first to see Jamie and Chris, Tinny wasn’t about at that time, we gave them things that they needed and their food for the evening, they were very happy with the homemade stuff I made. We took out extra coats tonight as the temperature has dropped so much and we gave Jamie a thicker longer one that he was wearing, he gave us the one he had on back to us to give to someone else.

After sorting these two out we went to Osborne road but no one about, we then walked down Palmeston road and we found Jim, he was so cold he could not stop shaking, I gave him some hot soup and food. We also gave him a jumper and couple of t shirts, he said it was more about layers rather than thickness. We got back in the car but I didn’t like leaving Jim in this way so I got back out and took him a coat over which he refused before as he already had 2 on. I eventually got him to put it on, I gave him a hand as it was tight fitting due to his other coats.

Anyway we went on our way satisfied that we managed to put coat on Jim. We went to Albert road and see Sean. As we were walking towards him we noticed he was talking to Steve, a homeless guy whose mother kicked him out because he was gay. Steve remembered us and thanked us for helping him in his time of need, how sweet of him. I asked how he was doing and he told us that his mother has accepted his sexuality but they still have a little way to go to being as close as they were. Steve has now got a roof over his head and is sorting himself out, I offered him some food and soup but he said no thankyou, he wanted it to go to people that needed it as he is ok now.

I gave Sean his food and soup then we drove around for a while to see if there was anyone else around but there wasn’t so we went back to the hard to if Tinny was there. He was , so we gave him a pot noodle as he doesn’t like soup very much. We gave him other food as well and had a chat. He was very cold and said he will be going shortly to find shelter.

After seeing everyone we headed home to empty the car out, were glad to get back in the warm but couldn’t help feeling guilty as everyone tonight was so very very cold. Makes you feel extremely lucky and grateful to have a roof over your head. I hope one day I will be able to put a roof over their heads but I have a long way to go yet but that won’t stop me trying…..

TUESDAY 31^ST JANUARY. Found 1 new gentleman called TIMOTHY, we also see CHRIS, JAMIE, TINNY and SEAN

Liam came out this evening with me as Di could make it. An extremely cold night tonight, I made sure Liam put his thermals on as it was so cold.

Liam and I went back to the seafront to see if there is any sign of Phil and mark, we went to the bowling green and the war memorial. No sign of anyone at all. We walked around the memorial and stopped when we heard voices, Liam turned to his left as that was where the voices were coming from but there was no one there except a statue, this freaked him out a little, and me. I said to Liam that this was exactly the spot where Di and I heard the coughing last time, I didn’t think I could walk as fast as I did after that. I was very scared, think the place is haunted. The strange thing about it was that the spot where we heard the voices was colder, it seemed as if we walked in and then out of a freezer, very strange. Anyway we soon left there as there was no one around.

We went to the hard and asked Tinny if he had heard or seen Phil but he said he hasn’t, we gave Tinny some food and coffee, he didn’t want soup. Going around behind the coach park we stopped and gave food and soup to Jamie and Chris. I gave Jamie the guitar and he was over the moon , he kept saying it’s a fender, I don’t know the difference from one guitar to the next but Jamie does ha ha. Liam and Jamie had a little jam together whilst I spoke to Chris. There was another chap at the end of the road who we stopped and fed, his name was Timothy, and he is American. He said that his father told him to sail to England to get to know the place where he was born. His parents had him then moved to California when he was a tiny baby; they came to England every 3 years to visit family. Unfortunately for Timothy his boat sank just after he had to abandon it due to it breaking down, so now he has nothing. I asked him if his parents could get him back home but he said they have both died since and there is no way back. I told him we would be back Thursday to give him more food and soup. According to Chris and Jamie this Timothy has still got his boat and he sleeps on it at night, so I’m not sure how much was truth in what he was telling us.

We went to Osborne road where there was no one tonight then went to see Sean down Albert road, he was told by the wardens that he is not allowed to sit on the floor when selling the big issue so I gave him a crate to sit on, it just seems that they are picking on him so that he has to move. They told him that he has to be 6inches off the floor so the crate I gave him was perfect. After feeding and sorting Sean out we drove about but found no one so we went back to the hard and gave all the coffee and soup to the lads down there, we then went home.

THURSDAY 26^TH JANUARY. Another quiet evening but we did see JAMIE, CHRIS, TINNY, SEAN and MAC

This evening I took out a young lady named Courtney, her mum is a carer at Echoes, the company I work for and she asked if her daughter could come out with me as she needs to do some volunteer work to help her achieve her duke of Edinburgh award. I didn’t mind her coming out but I was worried about her age as she is only 14, so I asked my son Lewis if he could come out with us, just as a precaution in case we come across any strange behaviour on our round.

We picked Lewis up on our way to the seafront, he only lives in Fratton so it wasn’t going out of my way. Our first stop was to see if there was any sign of Phil and Mark but agin there wasn’t, we stopped at the war memorial but never walked around it, just called out for Phil and Mark by the road side, but no one there. We went along to see Tinny, Chris and Jamie and introduced them to Lewis and Courtney. They were very polite as usual and made Courtney and Lewis feel at ease. Lewis and Courtney weren’t sure on what to expect when they came out with me but they were surprised at how nice these people are, Courtney said that they are just normal people like us but with no home, she really enjoyed herself. Lewis asked Jamie if he would like another guitar as he has one in doors that he no longer needs, Jamie of course accepted as his guitar has seen better days. I told him I’d bring it to him on Tuesday.

When we finished at the hard I took them both to Osborne road to meet Mac, he introduced himself and shook hands with them both. Mac told me that he had his drug test today and it came back clear, he was so proud of himself and so am I proud of him, it takes a lot to come off drugs, especially in the poor living conditions he is in. We gave Mac soup and rolls etc then went to see if Paul was about but he wasn’t so we went to Albert road to see Sean. I introduced Courtney to Sean and explained why she was with me tonight. Sean was now selling the big issue again so that he can stay in his spot without getting moved on. If you sell the big issue in big issue marked spots then you can’t get moved on by the police, council or wardens.

We fed Sean and gave him underwear etc then drove around but found no one else about so I dropped Lewis home and then Courtney and then I went home myself.

TUESDAY 24^TH JANUARY. Tonight we found no new gentleman. We see TINNY, JAMIE, CHRIS, PAUL and FAZ.

Tonight was a very quiet evening

Di and I went firstly to the seafront to find Phil and Mark but there was no sign of them where they were staying so we went to the war memorial just along the road. Phil said that they will be there if not in the normal place. Di and I walked all the way round the memorial but no joy, then we heard someone cough. We turned around to see if it was Phil or Mark but there was no one there, sounded like the cough was right behind us, this scared us a little as there was not a soul about , so where did the cough come from?

We got back in the car and went to see Tinny, Jamie and Chris at the hard interchange, we gave them all they needed and plenty of food. The local bakery gave a lot of readymade baguettes and sandwiches today so everyone was fed well and truly tonight. These lads are all so very grateful that it makes all what I am doing so worthwhile, I actually look forward to seeing them.

Chris and Jamie are staying in a bed and breakfast for the next 2 nights. They both see an elderly lady struggling with her luggage a few days ago so they both got up to help her, they carried her luggage to her sons car. The lady asked them both what their situation was and they explained they were homeless etc., she then told them that if they could scrape together £25 then they could stay in the attic room of her bed and breakfast for 2 nights, so that’s what they done. Jamie tells me that it is Chris’s birthday tomorrow and he didn’t want him sleeping on the streets on this day, how sweet. Jamie was in need of a pair of jeans and Liam gave a pair of his to me to give to Jamie as we couldn’t find any in his size in our collection of clothing. He was very happy with these.

After a long chat with them Di and I went to Osborne road to see Paul and Faz, no sign of Mac tonight. Faz didn’t recognize me from a few weeks ago, but he and paul did look as if they had been on something, they weren’t making much sense in what they were saying and seemed to have fixed stares. We gave them food and clothing and had a little chat then headed for Albert road. There was no one around this evening. I called Sean to see if all was ok and he said that he was fine. I asked if he had seen ian around as we haven’t seen him for some time now, Sean said that he has been hanging around Elm grove so we went there to find him but no Joy. Sean said that the wardens are moving them on all the time so as soon as they find somewhere to sit/sleep they move them on, these guys have no chance.

Di and I drove around some more but found no one else so we went back to the hard to give Jamie, Chris and Tinny the rest of the food we had left as we didn’t want it to go to waste. We headed home after this.

THURSDAY 19^th JANUARY. We found 2 new homeless men this evening, SIMON and GARY, we also see TINNY, PHIL, MARK, PAUL, SEAN, CHRIS, JAMIE and MAC.

Today I spoke with a local bakery to find out if they had any bread left over at the end of the day and if so could we possibly have it to help the homeless. The lady told me to go back at 3.45 of which I did and she gave me 2 bags full of fresh bread. I put most of it in the freezer for the other days we go out and cut and buttered a couple of loaves to take tonight to give with the soup.

Went out with Liam and Harriet this evening, first stop was to see Phil and Mark, they told us that the community wardens are wanting to move them on so they have now got to find somewhere else to sleep, they told me that they will see me next at the same place, they are going to go back and wait for me, bless em. We went onto the hard when we finished with these 2 and met up with Tinny, he looked cold tonight. He was in very good spirits and made us laugh, we gave him food and soup then went to Osborne road where we found Mac and Paul. Poor Mac was talking about Jon, the chap that was found dead in his flat by Ian and his brother. Macs friend drew a picture of blu the bear from jungle book on a wall in memory of him and his homeless friends wrote in it and signed their names as a tribute to him, I was touched by this as Mac is very sincere and a real softy, he does look a bit scary when you first meet him but he is adorable, kind and has a big heart. I asked if I could take a photo and mac said yes and asked if I could print a copy for him. He also said that the picture won’t be there for long so he wanted a little reminder. We gave Mac some soup but he did say that he only wanted pot noodles, I explained that I have to pay for some of the stuff out of my own pocket and pot noodles are too expensive for me to keep buying, he didn’t realise I was doing this off my own back, he thought I was part of the church group. He and the friend he had with him said I was an angel, I just said that I want to do this as I enjoy helping people, doesn’t make me an angel ha ha. We went down to see Paul after and he needed a jumper and food. As I crouched down to speak to him, a lady at the cash point said it was a wonderful thing we were doing by helping these people, I said again that I enjoy doing it. I went to the car to get the jumper and food and when I got back to paul he asked if I could stay because the lady we were speaking to gave him £10, she said it was nice to see people care and she wanted to help too. It just goes to show that seeing someone helping another rubs off and makes people think about their own lives.

We went to Albert road after and met up with Sean, he looked a bit low tonight but soon smiled after a long chat, we gave soup, chocolate bar, crisps, ham roll, bread and butter etc. We went back to the hard to see if Jamie and the others had turned up and he was there with Chris and a new gent called Simon. We gave Jamie the thermals as promised and some food for all of them. Jamie and Chris turned up just to see us , I thought that was sweet. Simon became homeless because he left his girlfriend as she was a drug addict and she overdosed again and Simon found this hard to cope with as this wasn’t the first time. He told me that he is a recovering alcoholic, he is finding it hard to keep off the booze but he does want to improve his life and be a better man.

We headed back home and spotted a young man, Gary sat outside the co-op in Albert road, we stopped and gave him some soup and bread. We never had much time to talk as I was parking illegally and got told off by a policeman passing by in a police car, I had to move asap . We went home after that.

Mac with tribute to Jon