John's story
It all started the day I was made redundant. They paid me my redundancy money and I was told I had to leave the place I was living - the job I had came with a place to live.
I left and found rented accommodation. One year later, having not been able to find work and having run out of money, I was asked to leave the place I was living. I went to the town hall for help. They told me they had nowhere for me but recommended a few places I should try. I found an Irish man and his wife who would put me up if the council would pay them the rent. The council said yes. The couple turned out to be alcoholics. It was not a nice place to live and I could not have my son stay there with me at the weekends because I was worried for his safety.
I began drinking a lot and started taking drugs. I was very, very depressed, thinking all the time about killing myself. I was in a very bad way.
One day the landlord had had so much to drink that he fell down the steps to the flat and died. The wife told me he was me he was renting the place from the council and it was illegal for me to stay there. The council stopped payment. I was living on the street the next day. I found a coal shed where I could sleep. In one year I had come from a maintenance manager of a posh hotel to a tramp on the street. The people I had known did not want to know me now.
I kept on going down to the town hall but they told there was nothing they could do.
I could not see my son who I loved more than life itself. I was too ashamed to let him see me like this. The only reason I did not kill myself was because of my son. I did not want to leave him.
One day at the town hall they gave me a number to ring. It was a place in Earls Court run by St Mungo's. I talked to a lady there and she gave me an interview a few days later and told me that when there was a place spare she would ring me. Things looked a little hopeful.
One week later I got the call and moved in. I was not good at filling out the forms but they helped me and even came to the town hall with me. I was in a very bad way when I moved in. I cried all the time. But the people there were very understanding and talked to me privately. They told me that every time I wanted to talk - not to worry what time of day or night it was - they would always listen. I believed them and when I was feeling bad I would go to them. They were very understanding and made me feel better every time I talked to them.
I had been given my own room. I shared a shower with other people on my floor. They all had bad problems themselves. I was not alone. They gave me towels, shaving equipment, deodorant, breakfast and dinner. The people who worked there were very friendly. They had many rules, which were the right rules to keep a place like that running safely. One rule was no children were allowed in for their own safety. I understood but missed my son. I met him now and again, now that I was looking clean and feeling a little better.
I was still drinking and taking drugs though. They said would I like to go and see a woman they knew who I could talk to. I said yes. The woman was very nice and listened to my stories and helped me to understand things. This went on for 12 weeks. It helped me very much.
I had debts with the bank. St Mungo's got me a woman to help with this problem. Any problem I had St Mungo's had a person to help you with - only if you were willing to help yourself.
After six months they moved me to another part of the building where you could cook for yourself. I felt more independent and confident. I still had problems but I seemed to be able to cope better now. I decided to stop drinking. They say they would send me if I wanted to but I needed to do it myself. They were all on my side. It was awful but I pulled through. I still smoked pot but I was not too worried about that. I became healthy and my mind became cleaner.
I needed my son more than ever now. I told them all the time. She got in touch with a man in the council who they introduced to me. He got me a flat which wasn't decorated but I knew I could make good. My key worker got me money for paint. They told me I could stay at the hostel till it was ready. I worked very hard to get the place in shape. They helped me get furniture for the place, nothing special but it was everything to me. I moved in after one month.
Now I am learning to write and use the computer which I never had to do before because I always had a secretary. My son comes and stops with me every week. We are happy again. I have a pint of lager now and again. It is not a problem any more. I do not take drugs at all.
If it was not for St Mungo's, I know I would be dead now. I cannot thank you all enough.
I am hoping to get back to work one day. St Mungo's is still helping me with all this. You do a job that most people do not even know about.
Thank you very much from me and my son.