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This is not something I ever thought I’d write, but I wanted share why I know how easy it is to slip
into homelessness & food poverty. I’ve thought long and hard about doing so, but seeing other
people share their stories has helped me, and I hope mine might do the same.
into homelessness & food poverty. I’ve thought long and hard about doing so, but seeing other
people share their stories has helped me, and I hope mine might do the same.
Too often at the moment you see the “feckless poor” narrative being repeated. The old idea that to
be poor is to be lazy. Well here is how I know, for an absolute fact, you can do everything right and
still end up there. And how hard it is to escape.
Thread (long one) . . .
be poor is to be lazy. Well here is how I know, for an absolute fact, you can do everything right and
still end up there. And how hard it is to escape.
Thread (long one) . . .
When I was 6 years old my life was pretty normal. Mum, dad, younger sister. Dad had his own small
business, mum looked after me & my sister and helped out with business admin. We owned our
family home in South Wales. Not a huge amount of spare cash, but ok and happy.
business, mum looked after me & my sister and helped out with business admin. We owned our
family home in South Wales. Not a huge amount of spare cash, but ok and happy.
Then my mothers mental health deteriorated quickly and catastrophically. She had a breakdown and
my father had no choice but to remove me and my sister from the family home and find other
accommodation. He had to stop working to care for us full time.
my father had no choice but to remove me and my sister from the family home and find other
accommodation. He had to stop working to care for us full time.
The business didn’t exist without my father and it went bust. The house wasn’t far behind. There
wasn’t much other money, or extended family. Dad was now a single parent with two daughters
under 6, and the country was heading into the early 90’s recession.
wasn’t much other money, or extended family. Dad was now a single parent with two daughters
under 6, and the country was heading into the early 90’s recession.
We ended up, very quickly, with nowhere to live. The safety net of benefits was there, but the
council couldn’t house us, so we ended up in a homeless hostel for single parent families. It was
either this or me and my sister being taken into care and dad being homeless.
council couldn’t house us, so we ended up in a homeless hostel for single parent families. It was
either this or me and my sister being taken into care and dad being homeless.
It took 4 months to go from the house to the hostel.
My dad tried hard to protect us from the realities of the situation. But I remember the choices he
had to make, and the constant underlying anxiety. The shared hostel kitchen with one cooker and
lots of other families. Porridge oats and lentils. Seeing my dad counting coins.
had to make, and the constant underlying anxiety. The shared hostel kitchen with one cooker and
lots of other families. Porridge oats and lentils. Seeing my dad counting coins.
I’d like anyone sharing their “30p” meal recipes to know what it’s like to eat this stuff day in day out.
And to feel, more than the boredom, the stress of knowing how scarce food is. I promise that
children see and absorb it all. The scars of food poverty are real and lasting.
And to feel, more than the boredom, the stress of knowing how scarce food is. I promise that
children see and absorb it all. The scars of food poverty are real and lasting.
There were a million other details and ways this story could go, but ultimately, in a Sliding Doors
moment, dad (literally) bumped into a woman one day who he eventually married (31 years
together and counting ). Me and my family had a monumental piece of luck.
moment, dad (literally) bumped into a woman one day who he eventually married (31 years
together and counting ). Me and my family had a monumental piece of luck.
We were lifted out of our situation and taken one step up, and away. This isn’t rags to riches by any
means. But there was security and the game changed. So what’s my point? Well there’s two:
means. But there was security and the game changed. So what’s my point? Well there’s two:
1. My dad did everything right, and we still ended up in this situation. My mum had mental health
issues, this can happen to anyone. Somehow he got us through. But it happened to my family and
believe me it can happen to yours.
issues, this can happen to anyone. Somehow he got us through. But it happened to my family and
believe me it can happen to yours.
2. We didn’t go from homless to security because dad saved or worked his way out. He did save
every penny. He always prioritised our needs first and often went without. But in spite of doing ALL
this, it took a massive stroke of luck to change our lives. Not everyone gets that.
every penny. He always prioritised our needs first and often went without. But in spite of doing ALL
this, it took a massive stroke of luck to change our lives. Not everyone gets that.
I have asked him since whether he thinks he could have saved his way out. His answer was that, especially when caring for children, “it was next to impossible”.
This was one family, and one unique set of circumstances. But be it mental health, redundancy,
a relationship breakdown, or a global pandemic shutting down our way of life, you are closer to what happened to us than you can imagine
a relationship breakdown, or a global pandemic shutting down our way of life, you are closer to what happened to us than you can imagine
If you want to help, don’t hope for change, vote for change. And consider donating to your local
foodbank.
Also, this whole thread is a very long winded way of saying thank you to my stepmum who, 31 years
ago, took a crazy, brave chance and changed our lives forever x
foodbank.
Also, this whole thread is a very long winded way of saying thank you to my stepmum who, 31 years
ago, took a crazy, brave chance and changed our lives forever x
Find a food bank in your area to support here . . https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/
