August 14, 2024 • 21 mins
In this episode of the Rural Homelessness Podcast, host Matt McChlery speaks with Ed, who shares his personal experience of homelessness. Ed discusses the challenges he faced while being homeless, including the cycle of crime and imprisonment to have a roof over his head. He also highlights the difficulties of finding basic necessities like food and shelter while living on the streets. Ed emphasizes the importance of understanding and compassion towards homeless individuals and dispels misconceptions about homelessness. He expresses gratitude for the support he received from The Ferry Project, which helped him turn his life around and find stability.
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Takeaways
- Homelessness is not a choice for many individuals, and it is important to dispel misconceptions and stereotypes about homeless people.
- Living on the streets presents numerous challenges, including finding food, shelter, and basic necessities.
- Support from organizations like The Ferry Project can make a significant difference in helping homeless individuals turn their lives around and find stability.
- Understanding and compassion from the public can go a long way in supporting homeless individuals and helping them reintegrate into society.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Rural Homelessness Podcast 01:28 Ed's Experience of Homelessness 03:25 Challenges Faced on the Streets 06:05 Finding Support at The Ferry Project 09:02 Settling into Life at The Ferry Project 10:03 Highlights and Progress at The Ferry Project 11:29 Misconceptions about Homelessness 12:28 Compassion and Highlights from Strangers 15:25 The Importance of Understanding Homelessness 16:01 Life After Homelessness 17:29 Hopes for the Future 18:57 The Impact of The Ferry Project 20:25 Conclusion and Call to Action
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:06):
This is the Rural Homelessness Podcast, where we discuss the important issues around ruralhomelessness, hear from those affected by it, and offer some solutions.
Brought to you by the award -winning homelessness charity, The Ferry Project.
Welcome to the Rural Homelessness Podcast.
(00:29):
Welcome to this episode of the Rural Homelessness Podcast.
I'm your host Matt McCleary and thank you so much for clicking over here today to have alisten to our show.
Now today we're going to be speaking to Ed who has quite some story to tell but beforethat I just want to thank you for liking and sharing and commenting about the podcast and
(00:53):
the different episodes we've had up until this point.
It's really important and it's vital
if we are to get the story of rural homelessness being spoken about more around the nationand also increasing understanding and awareness of what rural homelessness is and some of
the challenges faced by those who experience it.
(01:14):
So thank you, thank you for playing your part.
Thank you for making a difference by liking, by sharing, by reposting these episodes.
So please continue to do that because we believe
passionately that rural homelessness is important and that it's something that we shouldknow more about and be talking more about.
(01:38):
Now as I said we'll be speaking to Ed today and he has experienced homelessness forhimself.
So here is Ed telling his story.
Welcome to the podcast Ed.
Could you tell us what was life like
before you came to the Ferry Project?
(02:02):
Life for me was very different.
Being homeless, being in prison, it was completely different because you didn't know ifyou never had a chance to move on with your life.
I always thought I'd be in a circle of crime, homelessness, and then obviously I came tothe Ferry.
(02:26):
What kind of life circumstances led to that sort of cycle of homelessness and crime?
When I was with a girl, obviously the relationship broke down and obviously her mum kickedme out and then it just like, I don't want to be homeless.
So I done crime to be put in into prison just so I had a roof over my head so could getthree meals a day.
(02:52):
Had people to talk to.
Because when you're on the street, you've got no
You've literally down your own.
And that's why I'm grateful for the things that I've done, what I've got, you know.
It is tough being homeless, and it really is.
Because you've got to fend for yourself.
You've got to feed yourself.
You've got to try and get money just to feed yourself.
(03:13):
You've got to try and find somewhere to wash your clothes, to have a shower.
And that's not easy.
That's not easy.
Because some people just go, no.
Because they think you want it for a drink or you want it for drugs.
But in my case, that's completely different.
That's completely different.
I think that's why I went to prison, though.
Just so I can have a food so I can wash my clothes, so I can have a shower.
(03:35):
That's a bed to sleep in.
Like, basically not comfy, not comfy, but it was something to sleep on instead of sleepingon the floor.
I think when I was in prison, I think the first time I was put a mattress on the floor,because that's what I was used to.
That's what I was actually used to, sleeping on the floor.
And then in the end, I
thought, no it's going back on the bed.
So I put it back on the bed.
(03:58):
Could you describe what a typical day for you would have been like?
So when you were homeless, what might a course of a day involve for you?
Usually just waking up, there, hoping people give you change or bring you food out.
And then literally just go back to sleep.
That's literally the whole, that's the typical day.
(04:21):
Because you have no money to go anyway, you have no money
go and get new stuff or don't get this or that what you need.
You had no money to go have a shower or anywhere.
So that was a typical day just waking up.
Hopefully people give you money and food.
I was lucky that day because when I woke up under my sleeping bag there was like 20 quidin change.
(04:42):
So it's like people just kept walking past just putting change under there which is quitegood.
So I had enough money to go and get a McDonald's and a shower and that was about it.
And that was basically
The money literally got within 10 minutes, 20 minutes.
So yeah, that was tough.
(05:03):
And how did you feel during this time?
I felt bad.
felt like my mental health went downhill.
I felt like killing myself trying to end my life quite a few times.
And in the end, the police had enough of it.
They literally put me in a hotel because they didn't want a death on their hands.
(05:27):
they helped me.
But yeah, I didn't even stay in hotel.
stayed on the streets because that's what I was used to at the time
Everywhere I got put, I was always back on that street because that's where I was.
That's what I was used to.
That was my life at the time.
Once you were in prison then, did you start to get the help and support that you werelooking for?
(05:49):
Yeah.
they put me on antidepressants.
was starting to get in mental health.
I was starting to get help from Catch 22.
I was getting all the help that I need.
a job in there as well.
So I got the help that I needed.
think the homelessness when I was in prison didn't cross my mind at all.
(06:12):
But what the only thing that worried me is if I had a family somewhere after I leftprison.
Just about to ask when you you left prison, it like, know, well, your time is up, you'reback on the streets again?
Or did that happen to you?
Or at what point
did you find the Ferry Project.
(06:33):
What happened then?
When I came out, probation put me in the Ibis in Cambridge.
And I was there for two weeks.
And then obviously they moved me to the Rose and Crown which then I was there for about...
Which is in Wisbech Yeah, which is in Wisbech.
And then obviously about three months after that, I got a referral to the Ferry Project.
(06:58):
So they sent me in through here.
accepted, got put in here.
But then obviously I made the stupid mistake by moving out to go and live with a couple ofpeople that I knew.
Obviously that didn't work out the way it was supposed to.
So I obviously come back to the Ferry.
(07:21):
And what did it feel like when you first came to the Ferry Project?
Did it take time to get used to the new environment or what was that experience like foryou?
It got you.
Well, it was hard to settle in because I didn't know the routine, didn't know the rules, Ididn't know what time you had to be in and out.
(07:43):
I didn't know any of that.
it was kind of like, because I was a person who didn't have a, well, he was already eight,but he didn't have the time to be in bed.
He didn't have the time to go to sleep.
Or he didn't have the time to, well, he had the time to be in cell.
He had to be in cell by seven.
So I was asleep.
That was tough.
So I had that, but then coming here is kind of like, what time does the gates open?
(08:06):
What time do they share?
What time?
It was a different, a different.
Yeah, yeah.
was definitely, yeah.
Cause I knew nobody here, literally nobody.
The only people I knew was a couple of staff members.
That was it.
So I didn't know no one.
So I had to get to know people.
And that was hard.
It is yeah.
When you've been on your own for so long, when you have no one talk to.
(08:27):
Like in the Ibis I had no one.
I was on my own.
in the Rose and Crown had no one only people that spoke to me is when the staff, when Iwent down to get some like a pizza, because that was literally a pizza place as well.
that's the only time.
But apart from that, no one spoke to me.
So coming here was different, yeah.
But the only people that spoke to me was the staff member, was the staff, you know?
(08:51):
And that was tough.
It was the hardest part of my life that I had to get used to, how to make...
sacrifices for you know, and it is, it has been tough.
You know?
I mean, I know some of your story already and I can see how you've turned your lifearound, which we'll be coming to look at in a little bit.
(09:15):
But how has the Ferry Project helped you over this time?
For the last two and a half years, they helped me.
My mental health got really bad again.
They helped me with that.
They helped me get courses.
They sorted out a Fitness Rush van but one of the staff members here, he sorted out amobile Gym van with a bloke So I've done all the fitness with him, done a course with him.
(09:46):
Food Safety, I've done all the courses with that.
I've done quite a lot of courses.
That's how they've helped me to help me through my mental health issues.
They've helped me through the problems.
They've helped me through a lot of stuff that I've been through, and which is good, whichis why.
I think that's why I'm the person I am today because of them.
(10:06):
What would you say are some of your highlights since coming to the Ferry Project so far?
What are you most proud of during your journey?
The most proud of mine is getting to know science staff members.
When they were letting me go into training room and build a model, our lolly stick.
(10:31):
which I was trying to build a football ground which never worked out.
went wrong, I'd half of it and then it just turned out I went wrong.
I'm going on standings with them.
Just in general, it's not been as bad as I thought it would be.
So it's more the relationships you've formed.
(10:51):
Yeah, they're always there to listen.
But the highlight is when I can get the cook to cook food.
That's the highlight because
I've cooked food that I would never cook before in my life.
Okay.
So it's kind of like, right.
Good.
Cause the cook's quite good.
So she teaches us how to cook a lot of So it's like, which is quite good.
(11:14):
Wonderful.
No, really, really good.
Really good.
Let's just speak generally for a moment, rather than your specific story, which you'vebeen sharing with us is fantastic.
Thank you for that.
It's been really interesting.
But, generally speaking,
Do you think there are misconceptions out there about homelessness and about the peoplewho experience homelessness, like people's thoughts towards homeless people?
(11:39):
Yeah, think, yeah.
I generally do I think people are homeless, not because of their own, well, some of themare homeless because of their own accord but others ain't.
And the members of the public, certain ones, turn their noses up Turn their nose up aboutit.
And that's, in my opinion, still do.
(12:00):
You should help or give them something like food or drink or give them their money so theydon't give food.
Don't turn your nose about homelessness because one day it could be you.
When you were homeless, you mentioned that some of the attitudes towards you were verynegative.
(12:26):
Were there any positives?
Did you have any highlights or compassion shown by some people?
Yeah.
I was very, I sat outside this, sat outside an empty shot and next to it was like KFC andthen the other side was Burger King and stuff like that.
you found a good spot.
Pretty much.
And this lady, this lady, I think it was a lady or a girl, I'm not sure.
(12:51):
This girl, actually yeah, this girl came up to me, she goes.
There's some bears, sort of feeding and drinking.
It's like, thank you.
So in there, it was like a big Whopper burger and some chips and a milkshake.
It's like, thank you.
And then the other side, this lady walked out with a KFC burger.
So, cool, had my dinner and my tea.
(13:14):
But yeah, there was some, and then people just sat down and had a chat with me, after awhile was homeless and stuff.
So I explained all that to her and they
They felt upset because obviously there was no hope.
There was no hope at the minute.
Did it help you that some people were interested enough to ask you to tell them yourstory?
(13:40):
Yeah, yeah.
I generally, I generally, there was this old couple and I sat there with my, all I had wasmy sheet and back and just a couple
There's some money that people kept giving me, but people put it in a pot, which I didn'tput in my pocket because people around there, going around stealing people, they're having
(14:02):
people's money.
So, and these old districts, these old couple came up and they, well, they're homeless, soI explained it all to them and they went, wow, they're young.
went, yeah.
I went, they're really, be homeless.
I that's a choice.
I it wasn't a choice that I
I made it, said, this just happened.
(14:24):
And then they obviously took me and got coffee and had a chat.
And I was grateful for it.
And we're the worst.
What would you like people to know about homelessness and those who experience it?
I would want people to listen.
I want people to take more time with homeless people.
I want people to come and see what the Ferry Project does.
(14:49):
I want people to know.
my story and the people's stories.
I want people to understand homelessness ain't a choice.
Some people make a choice.
I didn't make a choice.
I had no choice.
And I just want people to know what it's like.
(15:10):
If they could go put them in my shoes for one day to be homeless, then they can see it'svery complete, different to their life.
Because it is complete different.
You know, that's the hard part.
That's the hardest
But I wouldn't, I would go back and be homeless anyway, because what I've got now isfriends referring to Ferry has actually helped me get into a better place of a right
(15:40):
place.
You know?
Yeah, that's great.
It's speaking of what life is like now.
Yeah.
What is your life like now?
My life now is looking better.
It's I've got a one bed bungalow from the Ferry.
yeah, I a
bills to pay back in real.
(16:01):
But life today, life now is good.
It's not just the Ferry that helped me, think.
Like some person in the sky actually helped as well.
He was, I think he's like those guiding angel.
God, he helped as well.
And you know, there's a lot of people that's helped me to get to where I am today.
You know, probation, football, ground, staff of the football here.
(16:26):
A lot of people have helped.
get to help me get to where I am.
And that's a good thing.
It's something that I can always be proud of, of how far I've come after everything I'vebeen through.
And I didn't have a very good childhood.
you know, getting to where I am today, with my own place, it's not a bad thing.
(16:49):
It's actually a good thing.
It's one of the best things I could ever have had, and to have a good feeling about.
That's really good.
What are your hopes for the future?
What's next for you?
What's next for me is to get a job, to get a good settled life.
(17:10):
Obviously I've got a partner.
She's been wonderful.
She's been there for me every step of my journey.
Hopefully stay where I am.
But yeah, my future, would rather, I want to get a job
the next day and I got certificates, got qualifications, so it's just finding that rightjob when my mental health is better and when I'm ready to find a job.
(17:38):
And when the doctors tell me I'm allowed a job, at the middle of the they will let me takethe cap.
You know?
But yeah, get a job and just settle That's great.
Can you sum up how the Ferry Project
has helped you and what difference has it made in your life?
(17:59):
I've made a lot of difference to be fair and when I first came here I was a bit wary of itbecause obviously I didn't make the rules and stuff but then as time went on I wasn't well
behaved when I first came.
Like for the first six months I wasn't well behaved, I got warnings after warning afterwarning and mental health then went downhill and then they've helped me through
(18:24):
And then after I just settled in this, was doing that for a camp, volunteering and goingto the art class, which I'm going to go to after this.
CDL has helped me get off of drinking drugs as well.
Fairies actually helped me do that as well.
So yeah, they've done a lot for me.
You know, and they should be proud of what they've done for me to help me get through whatI've got through.
(18:51):
Because I hadn't been for now.
I probably wouldn't be sitting here doing my broadcast.
No, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you, I be talking to anyone.
I'd be in the ground or somewhere, because that's how bad the mental health got.
But they actually helped me get through it, they gave me a chance and I took that chancewith open arms.
They gave me a chance in a bungalow.
(19:14):
That's what I've done.
So you have to, once you get a chance, take it.
Because you want to get another chance.
And I know that for a
This was like my last chance of having a happy life.
Yeah, so the Ferry's done well for me.
They've done what no one else would do.
They gave me a chance and I took it with both hands.
(19:37):
That's wonderful.
Well, thank you so much, for sharing your story with us today.
I've been fascinated by it and touched by it and I'm sure our listeners have been as well.
So thank you for joining us.
Well that was Ed sharing his story with us.
I hope that you enjoyed listening to it as much as I did when I chatted with him.
(20:01):
Just for your information, Ed is not his real name.
He asked us to use a different name to help protect his anonymity.
So that is what we did there.
So thank you so much for listening.
Don't forget, the Rural Homelessness podcast comes out twice a month.
So that's on the 1st and on the 15th of every
(20:21):
So I do hope to have the pleasure of your company again as I chat with more people aboutthe topic of rural homelessness.
It's a really important one.
So please keep sharing this podcast with those who you think will find it interesting, whowill find it challenging and who knows, together we can make a difference for those
(20:43):
experiencing rural homelessness in the UK today.
Thank you for listening and goodbye.
Thank you for listening to the Rural Homelessness Podcast brought to you by The FerryProject.
Visit our website on www .ferryproject .org .uk
This is the Rural Homelessness Podcast, where we discuss the important issues around ruralhomelessness, hear from those affected by it, and offer some solutions.
Brought to you by the award -winning homelessness charity, The Ferry Project.
Welcome to the Rural Homelessness Podcast.
(00:29):
Welcome to this episode of the Rural Homelessness Podcast.
I'm your host Matt McCleary and thank you so much for clicking over here today to have alisten to our show.
Now today we're going to be speaking to Ed who has quite some story to tell but beforethat I just want to thank you for liking and sharing and commenting about the podcast and
(00:53):
the different episodes we've had up until this point.
It's really important and it's vital
if we are to get the story of rural homelessness being spoken about more around the nationand also increasing understanding and awareness of what rural homelessness is and some of
the challenges faced by those who experience it.
(01:14):
So thank you, thank you for playing your part.
Thank you for making a difference by liking, by sharing, by reposting these episodes.
So please continue to do that because we believe
passionately that rural homelessness is important and that it's something that we shouldknow more about and be talking more about.
(01:38):
Now as I said we'll be speaking to Ed today and he has experienced homelessness forhimself.
So here is Ed telling his story.
Welcome to the podcast Ed.
Could you tell us what was life like
before you came to the Ferry Project?
(02:02):
Life for me was very different.
Being homeless, being in prison, it was completely different because you didn't know ifyou never had a chance to move on with your life.
I always thought I'd be in a circle of crime, homelessness, and then obviously I came tothe Ferry.
(02:26):
What kind of life circumstances led to that sort of cycle of homelessness and crime?
When I was with a girl, obviously the relationship broke down and obviously her mum kickedme out and then it just like, I don't want to be homeless.
So I done crime to be put in into prison just so I had a roof over my head so could getthree meals a day.
(02:52):
Had people to talk to.
Because when you're on the street, you've got no
You've literally down your own.
And that's why I'm grateful for the things that I've done, what I've got, you know.
It is tough being homeless, and it really is.
Because you've got to fend for yourself.
You've got to feed yourself.
You've got to try and get money just to feed yourself.
(03:13):
You've got to try and find somewhere to wash your clothes, to have a shower.
And that's not easy.
That's not easy.
Because some people just go, no.
Because they think you want it for a drink or you want it for drugs.
But in my case, that's completely different.
That's completely different.
I think that's why I went to prison, though.
Just so I can have a food so I can wash my clothes, so I can have a shower.
(03:35):
That's a bed to sleep in.
Like, basically not comfy, not comfy, but it was something to sleep on instead of sleepingon the floor.
I think when I was in prison, I think the first time I was put a mattress on the floor,because that's what I was used to.
That's what I was actually used to, sleeping on the floor.
And then in the end, I
thought, no it's going back on the bed.
So I put it back on the bed.
(03:58):
Could you describe what a typical day for you would have been like?
So when you were homeless, what might a course of a day involve for you?
Usually just waking up, there, hoping people give you change or bring you food out.
And then literally just go back to sleep.
That's literally the whole, that's the typical day.
(04:21):
Because you have no money to go anyway, you have no money
go and get new stuff or don't get this or that what you need.
You had no money to go have a shower or anywhere.
So that was a typical day just waking up.
Hopefully people give you money and food.
I was lucky that day because when I woke up under my sleeping bag there was like 20 quidin change.
(04:42):
So it's like people just kept walking past just putting change under there which is quitegood.
So I had enough money to go and get a McDonald's and a shower and that was about it.
And that was basically
The money literally got within 10 minutes, 20 minutes.
So yeah, that was tough.
(05:03):
And how did you feel during this time?
I felt bad.
felt like my mental health went downhill.
I felt like killing myself trying to end my life quite a few times.
And in the end, the police had enough of it.
They literally put me in a hotel because they didn't want a death on their hands.
(05:27):
they helped me.
But yeah, I didn't even stay in hotel.
stayed on the streets because that's what I was used to at the time
Everywhere I got put, I was always back on that street because that's where I was.
That's what I was used to.
That was my life at the time.
Once you were in prison then, did you start to get the help and support that you werelooking for?
(05:49):
Yeah.
they put me on antidepressants.
was starting to get in mental health.
I was starting to get help from Catch 22.
I was getting all the help that I need.
a job in there as well.
So I got the help that I needed.
think the homelessness when I was in prison didn't cross my mind at all.
(06:12):
But what the only thing that worried me is if I had a family somewhere after I leftprison.
Just about to ask when you you left prison, it like, know, well, your time is up, you'reback on the streets again?
Or did that happen to you?
Or at what point
did you find the Ferry Project.
(06:33):
What happened then?
When I came out, probation put me in the Ibis in Cambridge.
And I was there for two weeks.
And then obviously they moved me to the Rose and Crown which then I was there for about...
Which is in Wisbech Yeah, which is in Wisbech.
And then obviously about three months after that, I got a referral to the Ferry Project.
(06:58):
So they sent me in through here.
accepted, got put in here.
But then obviously I made the stupid mistake by moving out to go and live with a couple ofpeople that I knew.
Obviously that didn't work out the way it was supposed to.
So I obviously come back to the Ferry.
(07:21):
And what did it feel like when you first came to the Ferry Project?
Did it take time to get used to the new environment or what was that experience like foryou?
It got you.
Well, it was hard to settle in because I didn't know the routine, didn't know the rules, Ididn't know what time you had to be in and out.
(07:43):
I didn't know any of that.
it was kind of like, because I was a person who didn't have a, well, he was already eight,but he didn't have the time to be in bed.
He didn't have the time to go to sleep.
Or he didn't have the time to, well, he had the time to be in cell.
He had to be in cell by seven.
So I was asleep.
That was tough.
So I had that, but then coming here is kind of like, what time does the gates open?
(08:06):
What time do they share?
What time?
It was a different, a different.
Yeah, yeah.
was definitely, yeah.
Cause I knew nobody here, literally nobody.
The only people I knew was a couple of staff members.
That was it.
So I didn't know no one.
So I had to get to know people.
And that was hard.
It is yeah.
When you've been on your own for so long, when you have no one talk to.
(08:27):
Like in the Ibis I had no one.
I was on my own.
in the Rose and Crown had no one only people that spoke to me is when the staff, when Iwent down to get some like a pizza, because that was literally a pizza place as well.
that's the only time.
But apart from that, no one spoke to me.
So coming here was different, yeah.
But the only people that spoke to me was the staff member, was the staff, you know?
(08:51):
And that was tough.
It was the hardest part of my life that I had to get used to, how to make...
sacrifices for you know, and it is, it has been tough.
You know?
I mean, I know some of your story already and I can see how you've turned your lifearound, which we'll be coming to look at in a little bit.
(09:15):
But how has the Ferry Project helped you over this time?
For the last two and a half years, they helped me.
My mental health got really bad again.
They helped me with that.
They helped me get courses.
They sorted out a Fitness Rush van but one of the staff members here, he sorted out amobile Gym van with a bloke So I've done all the fitness with him, done a course with him.
(09:46):
Food Safety, I've done all the courses with that.
I've done quite a lot of courses.
That's how they've helped me to help me through my mental health issues.
They've helped me through the problems.
They've helped me through a lot of stuff that I've been through, and which is good, whichis why.
I think that's why I'm the person I am today because of them.
(10:06):
What would you say are some of your highlights since coming to the Ferry Project so far?
What are you most proud of during your journey?
The most proud of mine is getting to know science staff members.
When they were letting me go into training room and build a model, our lolly stick.
(10:31):
which I was trying to build a football ground which never worked out.
went wrong, I'd half of it and then it just turned out I went wrong.
I'm going on standings with them.
Just in general, it's not been as bad as I thought it would be.
So it's more the relationships you've formed.
(10:51):
Yeah, they're always there to listen.
But the highlight is when I can get the cook to cook food.
That's the highlight because
I've cooked food that I would never cook before in my life.
Okay.
So it's kind of like, right.
Good.
Cause the cook's quite good.
So she teaches us how to cook a lot of So it's like, which is quite good.
(11:14):
Wonderful.
No, really, really good.
Really good.
Let's just speak generally for a moment, rather than your specific story, which you'vebeen sharing with us is fantastic.
Thank you for that.
It's been really interesting.
But, generally speaking,
Do you think there are misconceptions out there about homelessness and about the peoplewho experience homelessness, like people's thoughts towards homeless people?
(11:39):
Yeah, think, yeah.
I generally do I think people are homeless, not because of their own, well, some of themare homeless because of their own accord but others ain't.
And the members of the public, certain ones, turn their noses up Turn their nose up aboutit.
And that's, in my opinion, still do.
(12:00):
You should help or give them something like food or drink or give them their money so theydon't give food.
Don't turn your nose about homelessness because one day it could be you.
When you were homeless, you mentioned that some of the attitudes towards you were verynegative.
(12:26):
Were there any positives?
Did you have any highlights or compassion shown by some people?
Yeah.
I was very, I sat outside this, sat outside an empty shot and next to it was like KFC andthen the other side was Burger King and stuff like that.
you found a good spot.
Pretty much.
And this lady, this lady, I think it was a lady or a girl, I'm not sure.
(12:51):
This girl, actually yeah, this girl came up to me, she goes.
There's some bears, sort of feeding and drinking.
It's like, thank you.
So in there, it was like a big Whopper burger and some chips and a milkshake.
It's like, thank you.
And then the other side, this lady walked out with a KFC burger.
So, cool, had my dinner and my tea.
(13:14):
But yeah, there was some, and then people just sat down and had a chat with me, after awhile was homeless and stuff.
So I explained all that to her and they
They felt upset because obviously there was no hope.
There was no hope at the minute.
Did it help you that some people were interested enough to ask you to tell them yourstory?
(13:40):
Yeah, yeah.
I generally, I generally, there was this old couple and I sat there with my, all I had wasmy sheet and back and just a couple
There's some money that people kept giving me, but people put it in a pot, which I didn'tput in my pocket because people around there, going around stealing people, they're having
(14:02):
people's money.
So, and these old districts, these old couple came up and they, well, they're homeless, soI explained it all to them and they went, wow, they're young.
went, yeah.
I went, they're really, be homeless.
I that's a choice.
I it wasn't a choice that I
I made it, said, this just happened.
(14:24):
And then they obviously took me and got coffee and had a chat.
And I was grateful for it.
And we're the worst.
What would you like people to know about homelessness and those who experience it?
I would want people to listen.
I want people to take more time with homeless people.
I want people to come and see what the Ferry Project does.
(14:49):
I want people to know.
my story and the people's stories.
I want people to understand homelessness ain't a choice.
Some people make a choice.
I didn't make a choice.
I had no choice.
And I just want people to know what it's like.
(15:10):
If they could go put them in my shoes for one day to be homeless, then they can see it'svery complete, different to their life.
Because it is complete different.
You know, that's the hard part.
That's the hardest
But I wouldn't, I would go back and be homeless anyway, because what I've got now isfriends referring to Ferry has actually helped me get into a better place of a right
(15:40):
place.
You know?
Yeah, that's great.
It's speaking of what life is like now.
Yeah.
What is your life like now?
My life now is looking better.
It's I've got a one bed bungalow from the Ferry.
yeah, I a
bills to pay back in real.
(16:01):
But life today, life now is good.
It's not just the Ferry that helped me, think.
Like some person in the sky actually helped as well.
He was, I think he's like those guiding angel.
God, he helped as well.
And you know, there's a lot of people that's helped me to get to where I am today.
You know, probation, football, ground, staff of the football here.
(16:26):
A lot of people have helped.
get to help me get to where I am.
And that's a good thing.
It's something that I can always be proud of, of how far I've come after everything I'vebeen through.
And I didn't have a very good childhood.
you know, getting to where I am today, with my own place, it's not a bad thing.
(16:49):
It's actually a good thing.
It's one of the best things I could ever have had, and to have a good feeling about.
That's really good.
What are your hopes for the future?
What's next for you?
What's next for me is to get a job, to get a good settled life.
(17:10):
Obviously I've got a partner.
She's been wonderful.
She's been there for me every step of my journey.
Hopefully stay where I am.
But yeah, my future, would rather, I want to get a job
the next day and I got certificates, got qualifications, so it's just finding that rightjob when my mental health is better and when I'm ready to find a job.
(17:38):
And when the doctors tell me I'm allowed a job, at the middle of the they will let me takethe cap.
You know?
But yeah, get a job and just settle That's great.
Can you sum up how the Ferry Project
has helped you and what difference has it made in your life?
(17:59):
I've made a lot of difference to be fair and when I first came here I was a bit wary of itbecause obviously I didn't make the rules and stuff but then as time went on I wasn't well
behaved when I first came.
Like for the first six months I wasn't well behaved, I got warnings after warning afterwarning and mental health then went downhill and then they've helped me through
(18:24):
And then after I just settled in this, was doing that for a camp, volunteering and goingto the art class, which I'm going to go to after this.
CDL has helped me get off of drinking drugs as well.
Fairies actually helped me do that as well.
So yeah, they've done a lot for me.
You know, and they should be proud of what they've done for me to help me get through whatI've got through.
(18:51):
Because I hadn't been for now.
I probably wouldn't be sitting here doing my broadcast.
No, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you, I be talking to anyone.
I'd be in the ground or somewhere, because that's how bad the mental health got.
But they actually helped me get through it, they gave me a chance and I took that chancewith open arms.
They gave me a chance in a bungalow.
(19:14):
That's what I've done.
So you have to, once you get a chance, take it.
Because you want to get another chance.
And I know that for a
This was like my last chance of having a happy life.
Yeah, so the Ferry's done well for me.
They've done what no one else would do.
They gave me a chance and I took it with both hands.
(19:37):
That's wonderful.
Well, thank you so much, for sharing your story with us today.
I've been fascinated by it and touched by it and I'm sure our listeners have been as well.
So thank you for joining us.
Well that was Ed sharing his story with us.
I hope that you enjoyed listening to it as much as I did when I chatted with him.
(20:01):
Just for your information, Ed is not his real name.
He asked us to use a different name to help protect his anonymity.
So that is what we did there.
So thank you so much for listening.
Don't forget, the Rural Homelessness podcast comes out twice a month.
So that's on the 1st and on the 15th of every
(20:21):
So I do hope to have the pleasure of your company again as I chat with more people aboutthe topic of rural homelessness.
It's a really important one.
So please keep sharing this podcast with those who you think will find it interesting, whowill find it challenging and who knows, together we can make a difference for those
(20:43):
experiencing rural homelessness in the UK today.
Thank you for listening and goodbye.
Thank you for listening to the Rural Homelessness Podcast brought to you by The FerryProject.
Visit our website on www .ferryproject .org .uk
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