It’s 2019. Practically everyone is glued to a smart phone, enjoys an annual overseas holiday and tucks into a hot dinner each night. We’re living in a throwaway culture, with fast-fashion at our fingertips, and buying products we can toss to the bottom of a drawer after one use if they don’t quite fit our expectations. Most of us are familiar with enjoying a warm cuppa while watching our favourite TV shows, and have never had to worry about when we’ll get our next meal, shower, or whether we’ll be safe while we sleep. The same can’t be said for the 9,100 people sleeping rough every night in England (Crisis).
Homelessness can be a touchy subject, and many people have the wrong idea about homeless people. Some show empathy by donating a pound or two, and may even buy an extra coffee to donate to someone perched in a doorway. Others will turn their noses up as they walk by, regarding them as second-class citizens, or feel frightened and speed up. But the truth is, anyone could become homeless – the streets are not reserved for those who ‘can’t be bothered’ to get a job, or who chose drug-taking over sitting their GCSEs.