|
EDGES MAGAZINE Issue 12 |
CHRISTMAS 1997 |
| I am Optimistic | |
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My name is Andrew Hughes and originally I'm from Dumfries, I moved down here to find employment, which I have and I've now got a flat as well. I am still trying to get it decorated bit by bit. The Social says I can't get any money from them because I'm working full time but I'm getting a small wage for the amount of hours I'm doing. I have been homeless. In Dumfries I was sleeping in the streets for over a month and the Council up there refused to give me anywhere to stay, they said I was 18 and not a priority need, they let me sleep on the streets and I've got asthma so I ended up deciding to come down here, see about employment and somewhere to stay and luckily enough, I've got somewhere to stay and two jobs. I work at a warehouse in King Street and I work in a pub |
| AN
OLDER FACE ON THE STREETS I come from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. I come to London regularly; and whilst here, I sleep on the streets as I do in Hertfordshire. I don't like London, the people in here are pretty heartless. For instance, you could live next door to a neighbour for 20 years and not know who they are, but I have to come here. There is no difficulty for anyone on the streets in London to get food, free clothing and also a shower and shaving equipment, for there's no need for anyone on the streets in London to be dirty, you can get clean if you want to and get all the clean clothing you want. Here at St. Martin's you can get cheap food everyday of the week except Wednesday when it's closed, about half an hour before they close each day you can get free food. You need a bit of money now and then, and there are those who are under age and don't qualify for any money and they tend to try begging, the competition is fierce, there can be fights and people can be badly injured over a pitch that can be quite lucrative. I was unlawfully evicted from my house in Berkhamsted, in 1990. Me and my wife split up in 1993 because of this eviction. I have 5 children, they're all growing up now. I am not very happy with the way the DHSS has treated us. You can know someone 30 years, think that he's a very good friend, and when the chips are down they don't want to know you, so they were not friends at all they were simply acquaintances, I've had first hand experience of this. |
