Mark’s story

Mark, age 34, Glasgow

I’ve been homeless on and off for years. People think being homeless is sleeping on the streets and in doorways and stuff. I’ve done that, or should I say I’ve had to do that. But I’ve also sofa surfed, been in shared accommodation, in b&b’s, hostels and temporary accommodation.

There’s nothing temporary about it. I can’t get a home. It’s been years since I had a home of my own.

I had one. I had a wife. But I lost my job, hit the bottle, tried some stuff, fell in with the wrong crowd and lost everything I had. All I cared about for a few years was getting wrecked, I was just getting mad with it, trying to have a laugh, blocking things out and not caring about anything.

But I did care. I do care. Deep down.

The Street Team found me in a doorway down a lane behind Buchanan Street. Someone had called their helpline worried about me. It was nice to know someone was.

I went to the Hub and had a cup of tea. They got me some food, a change of clothes, I had a shower. It felt good. I talked and they listened. They got me into a hotel for the night.

I guess I liked the fact that they cared and listened. I went back to the hub the next day and talked a lot more. It felt like they wanted to help … and they did.

I’m still homeless. I’m in temporary accommodation. But I feel safe at the Hub. I feel supported. And I feel like Simon Community are trying their best to get me a home. I’m ready. I’m doing a college course, I’ve sorted myself out. It takes time.

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