Gary was referred to St Mungo’s after a family breakdown led to the loss of his home and struggles with his mental health issues led him into addiction. Here is his story.
“I became homeless for the same reason a lot of people do: childhood trauma and a relationship breakdown. My mum was an addict and she died a couple of years ago, my dad was an alcoholic and I haven’t seen him since I was nine. I saw a lot of nasty stuff, and you take that into your relationships. I became homeless not long after I had a baby with my partner. I wouldn’t stay with friends much because I felt ashamed. I was sofa surfing and I slept in derelict garages; I’d been in the building game from a young age, and you can just tell where’s empty. Sometimes I slept in people’s cars. Once someone caught me when I’d slept in an old fridge.
I was put in a hostel around Kew, and it was all shared rooms. I’d never dabbled in heroin but the guy I was sharing with, as soon as I moved my bag in, he was chasing the dragon. Through depression I ended up doing it with him. He got a place in Peckham and I ended up sofa surfing at his for eight months, riding my bike to work in Twickenham. You’re their best friend until there’s no drugs about, then they want you out. It’s not his fault, he’s got mental health problems as well. It’s hard to see a way out.
I wasn’t well; I heard voices. Work dried up and I admitted myself to hospital. I was in there for a couple of months and I needed to get housed, I didn’t want to live like that anymore.
Things turned around for me when I got my flat and I made a conscious decision to stop using every day. I did my own detox for a month. I was referred to St Mungo’s for the construction course. I already had the skills, but in the Job Centre just want to pump you back into work; they don’t take into account what you’ve been through. But here you pick up skills you forget: communication, routine, camaraderie, responsibilities, timekeeping, and just being in that social environment again.
I volunteered for a year, painting St Mungo’s properties. I treated it like a job, getting into the routine again, getting up early, working, camaraderie. It’s a friendly environment and they want the best for you, straight away. They want you to go out and get what you deserve, if you put the work in.
I’m about to start a training course putting cladding on new-build tower blocks. Two weeks in the college and five weeks on site, and there should be a job prospect at the end of it. It’s good money as well. I’ll be working until my retirement.
I was in addiction and dealing with trauma, and I had a plan. I wanted to get off drugs, keep my flat, get a job, get a dog, raise her for a year and then come and do this. And I did it. I’ve got a little staffie called Tia, she’s a rascal. And it’s not just about me anymore, it’s about her.
The most valuable thing I’ve got from St Mungo’s is a sense of wanting to go out there and get back into my career, and make money. I’d be dead or in prison now if it wasn’t here. And now I’ve got a job to look forward to hopefully. I’m not going to go back to that lifestyle.”
