I arrived in London in 2018 seeking asylum after escaping war-torn Syria – leaving behind my widowed mother, siblings and dog Jacko.
Following almost a year in the limbo of asylum, I received refugee status and, despite Covid putting things on hold again, managed to build a life in London. A life which included being reunited with Jacko my golden retriever after a British charity kindly flew him to the UK.
And yet, in a few short weeks in the autumn of 2022, after my landlord sold my rented flat, I lost a home once again. I couldn’t find anywhere to live with a dog at such short notice and, thanks to the stress of it all, I lost my waitressing job too.
Jacko and I found ourselves on the streets of London.
Being homeless was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me – even worse than the war. While the police were very helpful, I endured some horrifying experiences, including waking up with a drunk man prodding my legs. Jacko saw him off. I had money for a few nights in a hotel, but they didn’t want me. I looked homeless. I couldn’t shower.
Together Jacko and I slept on the streets for several nights before I was given a room at the St Mungo’s hostel in Lewisham where Jacko and I were supported by the St Mungo’s team.
With their help and a roof over my head, I started to feel safe again.
Several weeks after arriving at the hostel, while I was sitting in the garden, in walked Jonathan, who had arrived that afternoon after nine weeks on the streets.
For both of us, ending up at the shelter was a shock. Like me, Jonathan had grown up in a stable family. But after a combination of Covid impacting his job and the death of his father, Jonathan had also found himself needing the support of St Mungo’s.
Through our shared trauma, a friendship blossomed that would ultimately save us both. We’d both been so depressed and miserable – but through meeting each other and our growing friendship, we both started to shine again. We were falling in love!
When Jonathan plucked up the courage to ask me on a date, I just felt it was really special.
A week after we started going out, I asked him to make a commitment – to go to the mosque and get our relationship blessed. So, we did.
Soon afterwards Jonathan got a job managing a storage company and we left St Mungo’s to move into a one-bedroom flat in Shepherd’s Bush.
My experience has made me look at homeless people in a completely different way. Anyone can be homeless if they’re unlucky. People just need someone to love and look after them. St Mungo’s looked after me when I needed it most.
We now have a beautiful son, and the three of us, with Jacko, are enjoying family life. As I look to the future, Jonathan and I are making plans to marry. And I hope to meet with my mother and sisters soon, if not in Syria, then in a neighbouring country.
