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From being attacked by strangers to long lonely walks listening to The Smiths — the varied and personal stories of homelessness

19 December 2017

While , their experience lasted only one night.

What if you’re homeless night after night? turned the microphone over to homeless people to record their own testimony of the dangers they face in the doorways, hostels and back alleys.

Vladimir’s story

I know very good bins. I know very good bins — but I can’t tell you. That’s my secret!

Bins are a vital source of food for some homeless people

I feel like a seagull sometimes!

Not literally, but in the way that they always disappear immediately when there is some kind of danger or something.

So if they see the food, they’re immediately close to it – as I am! – that’s animals, you know?

Animals have good instincts.

Every animal knows if it’s in danger, or if someone is hurting him.

That’s me now: animal.

Half animal, half human being.

Margaret’s story

I’ve been sexually assaulted; I’ve been attacked physically; I’ve been peed on.

Just treat us like a human, that’s all we’re asking for. That’s all I’ve ever asked for.
Margaret

I’ve had people coming out of McDonald’s being nice and handing me food, and then people coming out of McDonald’s and literally throwing cheeseburgers at my face.

Taking it out the packet – saying ‘here, have that’ – and actually throwing it at my face.

It’s completely and utterly humiliating, cos you’ve got to sit there and you’ve got to take it.

You’re made to feel like you are the dirt on somebody’s shoe.

Liam’s story

A lot of people think homelessness is just somebody sitting on the floor, in a cardboard box, asking you for change — and it’s not.

Walking around Dundee, Liam has noticed a rise in homelessness

That’s just some of the cases. There’s like my case, where people are in supported accommodation / a hostel.

When I wanna get out the house, I’ll just start going on a wee walk, put my earphones in...

Normally I’ll just head in any direction, just hope for the best, where I end up — but if I’m in a really bad place, there’s a stony beach that’s not too far from where I stay.

It’s time to reflect by myself. I’m not there for a massive amount of time, it’s just the music I get to listen to. That’s what I want.

I listen to a lot of The Smiths, I love The Smiths. A lot of their music and their songs, to me it feels like a story. And it’s a story about... it actually sounds like it’s written about me.

First-hand acounts of homelessness

  • The soundtrack to their lives: in doorways, hostels, back alleys, and in a variety of temporary and often dangerous locations and situations

More Â鶹ԼÅÄ stories from the streets

  • The street pastors help those in need, such as homeless people or those under the influence of alcohol.

  • John Beattie stopped on his commute and spoke to Norrie, who’s been sleeping rough for almost a year. What’s it like to be on the streets?

  • Eye-opening stories of the daily lives of women sleeping rough on Brighton’s streets.

  • Dogs belonging to homeless people are being offered free veterinary care under a new scheme in Leeds.

  • Alan, who served in the French Foreign Legion, took to the streets after returning from Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder.

  • A 12-year-old girl has described living in a single room with her mother, father and sister.

(Image of homeless man in Glasgow © Gerard Ferry / Alamy)

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