Spotlight - "Michael"
Michael is homeless and is currently living on the streets
He was born in Fulham in 1953 on the way to the hospital in a black cab. The family lived in Bagley Lane and his dad was a long-distant lorry driver and his mum was a housewife. He was one of fourteen children and they lived in the William Parnell flats (which have since been demolished).
Michael left his catholic school at the age of 16 to work in a butcher’s shop which he hated and left to work for his brother one year later. In that year he married his childhood sweetheart and next door neighbour.
At the age of 18 he was a general builder learning many skills such as plastering, plumbing, decorating and roofing. At 21 he felt he could run a business and proceeded to set up his own general building company. In 1974 his first child was born, a boy, and 2 years later they had a girl.
By 1975 it was a severe glam rock era but Michael preferred jazz and blues, so no stacked glitter infested boots for him! These were good times both financially and socially. For the first 10 years Michael maintained his own accounts but then decided to use his brother’s accountant leaving him more time to run the business.
For the first 10 years Michael maintained his own accounts but then decided to use his brothers accountant leaving him more time to run the business.
This proved to be a disastrous decision and in 2004 Michael lost the business due to the accountants missuse of funds. Michael was distraught having lost everything. His marriage broke up
and he found himself living on the streets. Michael was very depressed and turned to drink which made his situation much worse.
Michael eventually found a day centre which helped him greatly and there he met a lady who helped him through the next 3 years. He has been looking for work for some time having applied for over 100 vacancies but whether it’s due to his age or no fixed abode, he feels he is now unemployable. Michael has also been unsuccessful in obtaining social housing but not through the lack of trying. Many factors have prevented him getting a roof over his head.
In 2006 Michael put up a tent in Hampstead Heath the location of which is secret and he has lived there until recently. Michael came to the St Andrew's project in June 2008 and has been a regular visitor. He now helps out at the project which for me is great as the washing up is always done! Michael has made St Andrew's his home as he now comes most days to help out where he can. Michael says that he was very angry and drank quite heavily before he came to the project. He feels that St Andrew's has a calming influence on him and does not feel the need to drink every day. He has made a lot of new friends from the church, both volunteers and fellow homeless.
I am grateful to Michael for all his help and am honoured to know him.