I WAS FIRST HOMELESS AT 17

My name is Anthony, I'm 29 years of age and I have lived in Blackburn all my life. When I was at school I got involved with the wrong crowd, I was bullied, and I never went to school ... started nicking off, drinking a lot. I did do my exams but I didn't go for my results and since leaving school I've had a lot of jobs but my relationship with my family has tended to break up a bit. As they only had a few jobs in their lives; they expect me to have only had a few jobs in my life. The way I see it is, no matter where I go in my life if I've got more than what they've got there is a bit of jealousy there, which can cause friction.

With me living in Blackburn all my life, I know there is a bit of poverty in the job circle, there is a lot of crime, a lot of prostitution and there is also a lot of drug users, which is not really helpful for the people that are trying to make it in this town, especially if they've got kids. It is quite understandable for the child's sake, but myself, the only thing I've ever wanted to do is live my life in a nice area, have kids, nice job and have a car that will run me from A to B. The types of jobs I have had: - I've been to Germany, done tarmacing, bricklaying, warehouse jobs, factory work, labouring work, painting and decorating jobs, I've worked and cared for the elderly, I've also been on the Princes Trust which really enlightened me. Since leaving my family I've had a lot of trouble; my family have taken my money off me, they've given me the things that I didn't need, not the things I did need, so I've left; I've taken to crime, I've been in prison, I've got out of prison, and suddenly I've been in these hostels and guest houses, I've been drinking with my money. I'm a clean person, don't get me wrong, but the fact is you've got to go one step ahead, you've got to think ahead, think about your life.

I met a girl and I've been with her for two years now, I've got a child and it's made a difference to my life but she keeps saying, "cut the drink out". When I get money in my pocket, if I've no responsibility in my thoughts, the only responsibility I've got is to go indoors and have a drink, meet people, get on with people, come home sleep it off and wake up with nothing. I find that a bit hard, a bit difficult, and I've had to put up with that for a long time. Now I think because of moving out of Blackburn I've achieved a lot in my life; girlfriend and child, engagement, clean area, respectable place. I know a lot of people out there might think Oswaldtwistle is a part of Accrington but I've lived there for about a week now and there's been no trouble, I've heard no shouting, I've heard no abuse, - nothing, I'm happy and I'm staying there until I find the time to go further on. Being a father really kicks you up the arse, it really tells you what you are living for. You look down at yourself and you're thinking, I've got a child here, he or she needs my support. It's not like a dog or a hamster or a budgie, it's a human being, it's a child, and its needs are your needs.

I was first homeless when I was 17 years old and I was searching for what I needed and wanted, and that was a girlfriend, responsibilities. My main thing in life is responsibilities. When I was homeless I went to all these associations I got kicked out of one for hanging about with the wrong crowd, then I was put next door but one, and I got kicked out of there - wrong crowd, then I went somewhere else and got kicked out of there - wrong crowd, and then I went back home again; I left home because I couldn't do my own thing. I then went to a Guesthouse - I never got kicked out of there, this is where I met my girlfriend. The future lies ahead with a job, a well paid job. Looking at my future, it holds my girlfriend, my child, and a nice job.