When I was homeless, I used to sleep outside a lady’s hairdressers away from Manchester city centre. It was very quiet. When I was getting my head down one night, some guys came up to me and tried to sell me drugs, then they threw a brick at me. People assume because you’re homeless, you’re on drugs, but I’m not interested.
When I was on the streets, there was a charity that used to come around with food called Two Brews. I think the reason the charity helped me find Emmaus was that I used to put all the used food trays in the bin. Some people get the impression people who are homeless are scruffy, and I didn’t want that.
The charity started talking about the accommodation at Emmaus and that people work here. When I came to Emmaus, the first thing I thought about was that I have a roof over my head. I feel safe at Emmaus, that’s the important thing, and that there’s something to do during the day.
My routine at Emmaus
When I first arrived, I was cleaning and then I was in the café. I enjoyed having something to do; something that is useful. That was what got to me about being homeless, filling the hours of time. I used to go to the library for shelter and to have something to do.
I liked talking to some of the customers in the café. Some come here on their own and you get to know the people who are regulars. When I am in the café, I enjoy learning how to make the food. When I’m in the Emmaus community kitchen with the chef, I like getting stuck into the food prep then going outside to have a break. I’ve always liked this routine when I’m at work.
Saving items from landfill
In the Recycling Centre, I learned what to do by listening to one of the other people at Emmaus, who told me what’s copper, what’s aluminium, and, after a while, instinctively, I knew what to do.
Most of the copper comes from anything with a motor, washing machines and dryers, for example. If it’s got a coil in it, Emmaus can raise money from the metal. You can also get metal from stripping cables.
I like raising money from recycling. Emmaus can get an income from passing on the copper, aluminium and brass, but you need a licence to do this and a bank account, so people can’t just do this at home.
This is important because Emmaus needs to raise money to keep this place going. Charities don’t get financial help from the government and have bills to pay too.
Once a week we pass on damaged clothing and books, which get sold on or pulped. This saves these items from landfill as they don’t go in the bins, and brings in money each week, which all adds up. My motivation for doing this, is that it supports others and pays the bills at Emmaus. I feel proud when I’m recycling.
Emmaus gives me security
Since I’ve got here, I feel a lot better. When I was homeless there was a council policy of putting you in a hotel when it was very cold. Councils haven’t got the money to put people up for weeks on end, so you stay there, but know at some point you have to go back on the streets.
I’m at retirement age and I won’t be able to have a flat because it’s too expensive. Emmaus has a roof, electricity and water with three square meals a day and an allowance.
It’s the security Emmaus gives that’s important to me. It took me a couple of weeks to realise when I got here that my application had actually gone through, it wasn’t going to be rejected and that I could stay.
If you or someone you know is homeless or at risk, and you would like to learn more about the long-term support available from Emmaus Bolton, visit our help page here.