James’ Story
My dad was a carpenter and I spent a lot of time in his workshop with him, helping look after his tools. I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps so when I left school, he got me a job at a local woodworking company and having a job meant that life was more normal.
I had a long-term girlfriend; we had a son and I worked hard to make sure they were fed and happy. Then, my girlfriend started spending nights with family until one day she just decided not to come home.
I didn’t think anything was wrong until she stopped wanting to be with me. I left the house and started living in my van.
So my son wasn’t all alone in that house, especially over Christmas, I came back sometimes but she wanted me gone so I moved into the van permanently.
I spent every night in that van, freezing cold in the winter. I didn’t think anything like this could ever happen.
I kept going into work to get warm and wash. One night I got a gas heater but it caught fire and almost blew up in the van.
Someone I knew told me I could get food and a shower at the Haven. I went there and they gave me nothing but kindness.
Every time they asked me what I needed and what they could give me to take away when I left. I had no way of doing any of the things I needed to do on a computer when I was living in the van so they helped with that and got me on the waiting list for a flat.
One morning I felt really bad so my son took me to hospital and they told me if I hadn’t come in, I would’ve died. I had an infection in my lungs because the van was freezing cold, stuffy and dirty.
I’ve had time to reflect on how one minute you go from a family and a home to being on the street, no food, no showers, but still going to work to try and keep a smile on your face. It’s a really lonely place.
When I got out of hospital, the Haven helped me get this flat. My son works with me now and I’m going to work every day.
