Homelessness In Portsmouth

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.