Save two lives today
“At my lowest point I wanted to end my life. But I would think: who will look after her if I’m gone? She’s the reason I’m still here.”
JB became homeless when his drug use took over his life. He lost his job as a chef and his relationship with his girlfriend broke down, leaving him with nowhere to live.
He blames himself for the turn his life took, but that only made the experience of homelessness harder.
“Sleeping rough is really tough,” JB says. “Most people would walk past and completely ignore me. Even if I just said good morning to them, they would assume the worst of me.”
After 10 years of living on the streets with no companionship, JB’s life was suddenly filled with warmth and love when he found puppy Navrose.
“She’s been there for me ever since.”
He found it easier to cope with the monumental stresses of sleeping rough with Navrose by his side. They would watch out for one another, and Navrose made JB feel loved and accepted.
“Navrose is more than a dog to me; she’s family.”
Unfortunately for JB and other people sleeping rough, most hostels don’t accept dogs. It leaves many with an impossible choice: face another freezing night without shelter or leave behind the only companion they can rely on.
“I could never give her up,” says JB. “I think most homeless people with dogs feel the same. I’d already lost my family and friends, I couldn’t lose her too.”
St Mungo’s understands the powerful emotional support a dog can provide. That’s why we're one of the only charities to accept pets in our hostels.
Thanks to St Mungo's, JB and Navrose are now living together in a hostel and things are starting to look brighter for them both.
JB is getting help for his drug use and is starting tolook at job applications. It’s a slow process, but he has Navrose by his side.
“Even now that we’re off the streets, Navrose is the one who keeps me going. She gets me up in the morning and helps me sleep at night. When I look at her, I feel happy. When I look at her I know I can get through anything.”
People should never have to choose between shelter and companionship. St Mungo’s services are designed to give people, and their animal companions, the very best chance of staying off the streets for good, together.
But we urgently need regular donors to keep these services open and to allow us to reach even more people like JB (and dogs like Navrose!) in desperate need of our support.
For as little as £10 a month, you can save two lives from homelessness. Click below to donate now.
“At my lowest point I wanted to end my life. But I would think: who will look after her if I’m gone? She’s the reason I’m still here.”
JB became homeless when his drug use took over his life. He lost his job as a chef and his relationship with his girlfriend broke down, leaving him with nowhere to live.
He blames himself for the turn his life took, but that only made the experience of homelessness harder.
“Sleeping rough is really tough,” JB says. “Most people would walk past and completely ignore me. Even if I just said good morning to them, they would assume the worst of me.”
After 10 years of living on the streets with no companionship, JB’s life was suddenly filled with warmth and love when he found puppy Navrose.
“She’s been there for me ever since.”
He found it easier to cope with the monumental stresses of sleeping rough with Navrose by his side. They would watch out for one another, and Navrose made JB feel loved and accepted.
“Navrose is more than a dog to me; she’s family.”
Unfortunately for JB and other people sleeping rough, most hostels don’t accept dogs. It leaves many with an impossible choice: face another freezing night without shelter or leave behind the only companion they can rely on.
“I could never give her up,” says JB. “I think most homeless people with dogs feel the same. I’d already lost my family and friends, I couldn’t lose her too.”
St Mungo’s understands the powerful emotional support a dog can provide. That’s why we're one of the only charities to accept pets in our hostels.
Thanks to St Mungo's, JB and Navrose are now living together in a hostel and things are starting to look brighter for them both.
JB is getting help for his drug use and is starting tolook at job applications. It’s a slow process, but he has Navrose by his side.
“Even now that we’re off the streets, Navrose is the one who keeps me going. She gets me up in the morning and helps me sleep at night. When I look at her, I feel happy. When I look at her I know I can get through anything.”
People should never have to choose between shelter and companionship. St Mungo’s services are designed to give people, and their animal companions, the very best chance of staying off the streets for good, together.
But we urgently need regular donors to keep these services open and to allow us to reach even more people like JB (and dogs like Navrose!) in desperate need of our support.
For as little as £10 a month, you can save two lives from homelessness. Click below to donate now.