Our van is the lifeblood of our Hinckley-based homelessness charity, but after more than 10 years it’s spending more time in the garage than on the road. Every donation helps us keep changing lives in Hinckley and beyond.
I grew up in Ireland, with my parents, brother and three sisters. When my father left to move to England, my mother faced isolation from our extended family. She did her best to keep us together, but we ended up homeless multiple times in what was still a violent and dangerous Ireland.
Almost straight away, three of my siblings went into foster care. My mother, younger sister and I tried to stay together.
I spent my childhood sleeping in cars, woods, beaches and the occasional hostel. I remember Christmases spent outside – once on a beach and another time in the woods. We’d stay in the boot of a car because my mother thought it was safer. I got used to hiding and isolation became all I knew. We didn’t celebrate birthdays and I didn’t finish school.
One of the scariest memories was staying in a women’s shelter in Limerick. I remember hearing constant crying and screaming through the night. My mum would tell us to hide under the pillows and count to 10.
At 15, I started committing minor crimes to get by. Eventually, social services intervened, and I was placed with extended family for a while. But it didn’t last, and I ended up leaving and trying to make my own way. What began as survival became something more serious, and I spiralled into a lifestyle I didn’t know how to escape. I started using alcohol and prescription drugs to cope.
In 2014, I left Ireland. Too many friends were either going to prison or dying, and I didn’t want to be next. I travelled to Wales and then Northampton to stay with my brother, but it didn’t work out and soon I was sleeping rough again. I remember one winter when I went four days without food. I was wet, starving and at breaking point.
A homelessness charity referred me to Emmaus, and I moved to Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire. I was so grateful – I don’t think I could have survived another week outside. I stayed there for a couple of months before moving to Emmaus Gloucestershire, and then to Emmaus North East.
While I was living at Emmaus North East, I received a commendation from Northumbria Police for helping to stop a violent crime and detain the perpetrator. I didn’t have time to think about the danger I was in – I could see the threat to life and knew I had to act. The only thing that mattered to me was keeping those people safe. That moment meant a lot to me, and I’m proud of how I handled it.
I’ve now joined Emmaus Leicestershire & Rutland, where I’m continuing to rebuild my life.
Emmaus is a move up in the world compared to what I’ve known. The communities are clean, the staff are helpful, and for the first time, people are genuinely willing to support me. I tend to keep to myself – not because of anyone around me, but because that’s the lifestyle I’ve grown used to.
Looking back, I see now how deeply childhood homelessness affected my life. At the time, it sometimes felt like an adventure. I realise now it wasn’t.
Emmaus has given me structure and a chance to move forward. They can’t force you to change – you have to want that – but they give you the tools to start again.
Thanks to Emmaus, I have a calm and stable life. I feel as though I could have a future – which, just a few years ago, didn’t seem possible.
