St Albans: A Home We Can No Longer Afford – What About Our Children’s Future?
St Albans has been my home for as long as I can remember. I’ve raised my children here, in a town that has always felt safe and welcoming. But now, I find myself facing a future I never imagined—a future where my children won’t be able to stay in the place they’ve grown up. As […]
On the Margins: An NHS Worker’s Reality
I’m 40 years old, and I never thought I’d be living in a static caravan at this stage in my life. But here I am, parked up in a little corner of a site just outside St Albans, trying to make the best of it. I work for the NHS, and I love my job. […]
Trapped in Love: A Mother’s Exhaustion
I’m sitting here by the window, staring out at the world moving on without me, and all I can feel is this heavy, suffocating weight of being stuck. The sun’s out, people are living their lives, and here I am, trapped in the same routine, day after day. It’s like I’m living the same day […]
John’s Journey: From Homelessness and Addiction to Hope and Healing
My name is John, and I’ll be 54 next month. I’ve lived in Hatfield since 1972, and I’ve been homeless since 2015. No one chooses to be homeless, but sometimes life takes unexpected turns. My mental health has always been a challenge, and I’ve struggled with various addictions that I’m still battling today. While I’ve […]
Miles from Home: A Barista’s Journey
Every morning, I drag myself out of bed before the sun’s even up. It’s early, and I’m tired, but I’ve gotten used to it. I don’t have much of a choice, do I? I get dressed in the dark, trying not to wake up my flatmate, and head out the door. It’s an hour on […]
Two Bars of Warmth: A Winter’s Tale of Quiet Resilience
Every winter, when the frost begins to settle on the window panes and the days grow shorter, Edith, now in her 90th year, faces a familiar challenge. Her small, cosy home is cold, but the heating stays off. It’s simply too expensive to run. Instead, Edith relies on her old electric fire in the sitting […]
From Rock Bottom to Redemption: A Bricklayer’s Journey Through Addiction, Loss, and Recovery
I am a bricklayer by trade, and I’ve been dealing with drug addiction for most of my life. For a long time, I managed to keep things together as a functioning addict, balancing my work with my addiction. But everything took a devastating turn when my partner, whom I was deeply attached to, took his […]
James’ Journey: From Homelessness to Hope and Resilience
My name is James, and I’m 56 years old. Football has always been a passion of mine, and I’ve been a loyal Arsenal supporter for as long as I can remember. I also enjoy fishing, though it’s become more challenging recently because of arthritis in my leg. Despite the pain, I still find peace in […]
From Struggle to Strength: My Journey Through Homelessness and Boxing
The most challenging time in my life was when I was adopted. I didn’t get fed properly, didn’t have haircuts, and there was no one there to make sure I was alright. When you’re adopted, you need someone to look out for you, and I didn’t have that. Now, I’m homeless. I was in Cheshire, […]
Miles to Go: The Daily Struggle of a Man on Foot
Every morning, just before dawn, James—though that’s not his real name—laces up his worn-out shoes and begins his five-mile walk to work. His day starts at 6 a.m., giving him just enough time to make the journey and be at work for half eight. He can’t afford the bus fare, so he relies on his […]