<div>MyStory
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<div>Thru this we're supporting:
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<div><a href="https://www.shelter.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.shelter.org.uk" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.shelter.org.uk</a></a>
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<div><a href="https://refuge.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://refuge.org.uk/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://refuge.org.uk/</a></a>
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<div>Plus one other that the Givers vote for,
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<div>oh and me (I'm homeless)
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<div>In July 2025 I was working as a leaflet delivery guy, a few weeks from opening a gallery cafe for struggling and/or homeless artists and musicians, about to launch a gig night at a Lichfield venue and Jam sessions at various venues around the Midlands. Then the domino's started to fall. First, my employer denied me work, and then stopped my contract when I asked for more work. Two weeks later the landlord pulled out of the agreement to lease, just 2 weeks before I was set to open.This and other things lead my mother to bar me from her house indefinitely. I found myself living on the streets, unemployed and in debt to the sum of tens of thousands of pounds. I still am.
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<div>I continued to work on the gig event, but despite assurances I could book the venue, the contacts absence on holiday delayed the process so long this had to be cancelled, with no possibility of a new date until 2026.
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<div>While this was happening I'd relocated to a campsite and was constantly searching for bar or in fact any paid work, but got only one reply to 40+ applications. The one reply declared I had insufficient experience, which would be hard to establish, me being a former bar manager and barman of many year, cook and takeaway manager. Then the campsite owner declared that despite our agreement for me to stay for another month, I had to leave. They gave me 1 hours notice and that day it was hissing down. I then found myself with zero funds, no stable location to live in, in the camper van a good man had agreed to sell me 2/3 on credit, now my debt was 50+k. So, I was forced to be constantly on the move, seeking out parking spots where I could stay a night or two. A cemetery, several car parks, industrial estates, abandoned roads and driveways were typical. But all were very temporary. The constant need to move took up all my time more or less and damaged my health and opportunities to find work or get support.
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<div>On top of all that, several other events tested me. My van broke down, three times and I got stuck on the side of the road for several days, each time and had to borrow money to fix it. The new 5G mobile phone I'd bought 1 month before the bomb dropped, was stolen and the replacement broke. Then the biggest blow, my family cut all contact.
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<div>I hit bottom and this threatened to reignite the depression, that I'd only just emerged from after 5 years battling it, post beening forced out of my job in Vietnam. Darkness.
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<div>I nearly gave up.
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<div>Then a big piece of luck. I found parking by a bridge near Shenstone. The people, rather than Chase me off, welcomed me, allowed me to stay and gave me food and other kindnesses. I had a place to stay and time to get my application for Universal Credit completed, foodbank visits arranged and started the process of seeking housing support. Wow.
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<div>I tried to launch a popup gallery cafe, but no-one came. More job applications were completed, but no offers arrived and two promises of work failed to materialise. I sold any valuables I could (things I value more than their worth), but got disappointingly low recompense. Now I found I couldn't afford to maintain my phone or van expenses, no petrol, insurance payments missed, finance payments missed and problems with the van went untreated. Again my accommodation was under threat and my first UC payment was three weeks away and my request to back-date it was denied and the appeal sent into an indeterminatly long limbo. Luckily a good friend gave food, money and love. Life saver.
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<div>I am still unemployed, still waiting to hear from UC about money I am legitimatly due and absolutely flat broke and being threatened with legal action by some creditors. Now I was forced again to move on in search of income and back sleeping in the drivers seat as a result.
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<div>My Uncle had had cancer for sometime, and very sadly it was said he would not be with us much longer. I set off to see him in Bournemouth and spent a very short time talking with him and my Auntie. God bless them both.
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<div>Then I heard of a possible job and went to check this out. On route the steering wheel of the camper came off, luckily I could brake and coast on the verge, averting !?#!. I got this fixed, more expense. Two days later one of the front tyre split along the side and deflated. I then discovered the spare was, well, just a big paperweight, bald, split and sporting a rusted nail. So, no way to get mobile. I lost the job. Really galling! This was 10 days ago and I've been begging during the day and hunkered down in the drivers seat at night. Being stuck in a residential area, there's no option of making sufficient room in the back.
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<div>So that's the back story in summary, there's a great deal more I could share, lie having the police called on me twice for nefarious reasons, one result ing in 6 officers attending, being cuffed and searched and then given a warning for carrying a picnic knife! I've learnt a lot on many things and have got to know many people, some kind, many generous, all interesting. Homelessness is a pit people fall into. I now understand how deep the pit is and how slippery it's sides!
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<div>So to now.
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<div>Now I'm in the South. I came to visit my unwell uncle as I said before.
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<div>The puncture situation is ongoing and the discovery that I should have binned the spare has locking me into the 10 hours of begging needed to save a few quid. Fortunately two Angels have loaned me enough for one tyre and once I can clean up the currently unusable valve and plugged the nail hole I'm praying I can inflate it sufficiently to get to a tyre fentre. But there is one further hurdle. I also discovered after unpacking the whole van, I have no Jack or tyre iron. Net result Im stuck in an unsuitable spot with challenges to address.
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<div>I'm still trying to find work, but woth little joy, so I'm earning 10p an hour doing online surveys, the worst paid job I've ever had, by far. This I can only do when I can access the Internet, which is highly intermittent. I'm making about 5 pounds a day begging, thank you generous people, it's a massive help.
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<div>I am seeking help.
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<div>If you can spare a few quid, or a bit more, it would help me save my 'home', help me on the road to a job, help me better my health, get food and with luck a more suitable semi-perminant spot to pitch.
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<div>I am ashamed to be asking, but with my next UC payment weeks away, I am desperate. I'll be donating 50% to Charities supporting the homeless, the remainder I'll use to address the issues.
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<div>Thanks for reading this. Hope your well and have had a great Christmas and New Year. May 2026 be awesome for you all.
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<div>Steve Boriz Bob
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Anonymous

Eleanor (Kate) Chater

Phil Jenkins

Lene Petersen

Just £500 to go!
Make an impact.

Help Homeless, support Shelter, others & aid my direct work

Just £500£ to go! Make an impact.

Help Homeless, support Shelter, others & aid my direct work

Just £500 to go!
Make an impact.