0:00:03 > 0:00:11This programme contains very strong language.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Life is awful stressful as it is.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17I call life a schizophrenic bean.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20Cos of its ups and its downs.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Everybody keep telling me that God got a plan,
0:00:24 > 0:00:28but why do I have to go through the shit I go through?
0:00:28 > 0:00:30'If you're homeless in Detroit,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33'you've a higher risk of dying on the streets
0:00:33 > 0:00:35'than in any other city in the United States.'
0:00:35 > 0:00:38I cried many nights. Like, what am I going to do?
0:00:38 > 0:00:42I'm not ready to die. You do what you have to do to survive.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46'Homeless people here are surviving in a city that's
0:00:46 > 0:00:48'seen more than its fair share of troubled times.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52'Over the last 50 years, Detroit has gone from being
0:00:52 > 0:00:56'one of the richest cities in the US to being the largest to ever
0:00:56 > 0:01:00'declare bankruptcy, with debts of over 18 billion.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03'The sheer scale of the city's decay means
0:01:03 > 0:01:06'there are now around 70,000 abandoned buildings
0:01:06 > 0:01:09'and Detroit is struggling to support its population.'
0:01:09 > 0:01:11Oh, my gosh!
0:01:12 > 0:01:15It's tore down. The neighbourhood doesn't even look the same.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18'Services are being pushed to the limit to help
0:01:18 > 0:01:21'the almost 20,000 homeless people living here.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25'I've arrived during the coldest winter the city has seen
0:01:25 > 0:01:26'for over 20 years.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29'To meet the young people living on the streets
0:01:29 > 0:01:31'to see where they live...'
0:01:31 > 0:01:35- Wow, this is like a proper family home.- Move back, move back.
0:01:35 > 0:01:36Oh, my God.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38'..And what they do to survive.'
0:01:38 > 0:01:43- Hey, baby. - He's really trying to date. Don't...
0:01:43 > 0:01:46- This is crazy.- Mm-hmm.- Crazy. - It's like this every night.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Over the years,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06more than half the people who lived in the city have left.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10The ones that remain live in hope, of Detroit getting back on its feet.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14But that takes time and money that, right now, this city doesn't have.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18I've come here to find out how people are able to survive
0:02:18 > 0:02:22in Detroit when it's struggling to support its general population,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25let alone the poorest people, who are in greatest need.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30It's really quite surreal. The minute you jump in the car...
0:02:31 > 0:02:34..you drive a couple of minutes away from the hotel...
0:02:35 > 0:02:37..and some parts are rough, man.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Like, you know, all of these abandoned buildings.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44They look like they've been sat empty for ages. Look at all of this.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48You know, the only businesses,
0:02:48 > 0:02:52the only shops that seem to still be operating are the liquor stores...
0:02:54 > 0:02:56..the petrol stations...
0:02:56 > 0:02:59and the churches are still kept nicely.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04But all of this, I mean, it's in bits. It's like it's been abandoned.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08I'm on my way to meet a young Detroiter who's been
0:03:08 > 0:03:10homeless for over six years.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14Tiera is a trans woman -
0:03:14 > 0:03:18meaning she was born male but identifies as female.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22Her friend Julisa lives in the Palmer Park area
0:03:22 > 0:03:24and helps her out where she can.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30To make money to live, Tiera works as a prostitute.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33I'm meeting her and Julisa at a laundrette where she usually
0:03:33 > 0:03:37gets picked up by clients, or as Tiera calls them, "dates".
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Right now we are on 6 Mile and Woodward, which is
0:03:42 > 0:03:44where a lot of the girls work.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47During the day, but mostly at night-time.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49All these cars driving around here right now,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51if they see what they like, they pull right up.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54And may the best bitch win, cos I'm right there.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Come on, let's have a date. We sometimes pull double dates.
0:03:57 > 0:03:58So we jump right in.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01At night-time, a lot of the cars will park here as well.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03As you see, during the day, it looks like a laundromat,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06but because they are open 24 hours, at night-time they'll just park here.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10If you walk by, this is where they'll pull in and talk to you.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13So it looks more like they're doing something other than trying to
0:04:13 > 0:04:16- pick up a prostitute. - A bit more legitimate.- Yes.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19- So they'll pretend they're doing their delicates.- Yeah.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21While they're really dropping a load.
0:04:21 > 0:04:22THEY LAUGH
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Really dropping a load.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27What's it like to work here overnight?
0:04:27 > 0:04:28SHE SIGHS
0:04:28 > 0:04:30At night...
0:04:30 > 0:04:33To everybody else, it's scary. To me, it's a job.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35And I ain't scared. It is what it is.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38I mean, I feel like if you grew up in Detroit, you have no reason
0:04:38 > 0:04:40to be scared. Especially if you're out here doing this.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42If you're scared, why be out here?
0:04:42 > 0:04:45- So, I ain't scared.- Do you get busy?
0:04:45 > 0:04:48At night, yeah, it gets real busy.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Till some nights a lot of girls be out
0:04:51 > 0:04:53and I get to the point where I get so frustrated
0:04:53 > 0:04:56I have to walk off from everybody, just to catch a first date.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- Oh, really?- There'd be too many girls out here.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59Too much competition?
0:04:59 > 0:05:03I don't call it competition because I have got in over chocolate,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05I have got in over...
0:05:05 > 0:05:08some of the girls that have been out for years that have got titties,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11ass. I have got in. And like I always tell them,
0:05:11 > 0:05:15just because you got titties don't mean they going to want you over me.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19'With so many trans women living and working in this area of the city,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21'it's one of the few places that Tiera feels
0:05:21 > 0:05:23'she can truly be herself.'
0:05:23 > 0:05:26How long have you felt like you have been a woman?
0:05:26 > 0:05:28- Oh... - SHE LAUGHS
0:05:30 > 0:05:31When I first graduated,
0:05:31 > 0:05:35- I really wanted to be a girl. And I mean...- How old was that?
0:05:35 > 0:05:39- When I was like 14.- Right. How old are you, Tiera?- I'm 25.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Is that right?
0:05:41 > 0:05:43- I'll be 26 on July 2nd.- Stop it! You're younger than me.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45Mm-hmm. How old are you?
0:05:45 > 0:05:49How old do you think? Go easy on me. How old do you think I am?
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Um, you look like you're in your 30s.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53SHE SHRIEKS THEY LAUGH
0:05:53 > 0:05:55- Tiera, I thought we were friends. - I mean...
0:05:55 > 0:05:57I thought we were striking up a friendship.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59- Ain't you like 30? - I would have said like 21.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02- I will take that, Julisa.- 21. I would have said 21.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05- But 30's not old.- 27.- OK.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- Were you working last night? - I came out here for a second.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11- It was too cold so I went in. - Are you not scared?
0:06:11 > 0:06:15No, I mean, when I say I'm not scared, I have guys where I did try
0:06:15 > 0:06:20to go in this abandoned building, where you used to stay on Third.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24A guy... I went in there, seen him, walked out.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25He ran up to me with a pistol.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28I looked at him like, you willing to use that?
0:06:28 > 0:06:30I'm not scared of no pistol.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33And that makes me different out here. Cos I live here.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36I've been here my whole life. You going to use it, use it.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Only thing I ask, if you do shoot me don't shoot me in the head,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41don't shoot me in the heart.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44I mean, hey. This is not easy.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Cos you never know what's going through anybody else's head.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Do you have to carry a weapon with you?
0:06:49 > 0:06:51I always carry knives. My purse... Oh!
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- Show me what you've got in your purse now.- I have a knife.
0:06:54 > 0:06:55I've got to look for it.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59- And you feel like this is necessary, right?- Oh, it is. It is.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02See, cos I have long arms I'll pretty much need something that
0:07:02 > 0:07:05while I'm in a car I can just reach over... Yah-yah!
0:07:05 > 0:07:09- ..and stab them.- Let's see that. - I think I found my Taser.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11I've got to look for it.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15- Do you have to use it much? - I used it a couple of days ago.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17But it wasn't nothing that I couldn't handle.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Just somebody thought they were going to get their money back.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24I didn't let them know I was broke. I don't give refunds, so...
0:07:24 > 0:07:27I don't think there's a transgender woman in Detroit that doesn't
0:07:27 > 0:07:31carry a knife, a blade, some kind of mace. You have to.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34You risk being robbed. You risk the police not taking you seriously.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37And then we have to worry about all the brutalisation
0:07:37 > 0:07:38that goes on on 6 Mile and Woodward.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41A lot of girls have lost their lives out here and...
0:07:41 > 0:07:43- And I'm not ready to be one of those.- Right.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47A lot of the cases haven't been solved, which is sad.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49We've had girls that have been shot in abandoned houses,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51or their throats have been slit.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53There was one that had been dismembered,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55body parts found in different parts of Detroit.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58It's just not a safe environment. For anybody, let alone being transgender.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00But it's not safe for anybody out here.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06You know, when the girls started telling me about the murders...
0:08:06 > 0:08:09that are happening to the girls that are working Woodward...
0:08:09 > 0:08:13it just really hammers home what it can mean to be homeless
0:08:13 > 0:08:15here in Detroit.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19You know, there are so many things to have to contend with. But...
0:08:20 > 0:08:23..the idea that you've got to kind of accept...
0:08:25 > 0:08:28..that there's every chance you could get stabbed or shot
0:08:28 > 0:08:32whenever you go to work is just insane.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37In the last few years, four homeless trans women around the area
0:08:37 > 0:08:41of 6 Mile and Woodward have been brutally murdered.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45The discrimination that trans women experience
0:08:45 > 0:08:49means employment opportunities are scarce and even with the potential
0:08:49 > 0:08:53dangers of working on the streets, it can feel like the only option.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Tiera's hoping to make some money tonight and while she's
0:08:59 > 0:09:03out on the streets, her friend Julisa often watches her back.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Tonight, I'm not having no bullshit.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Cos if they play with me, I'm going to take their money, I'm going
0:09:10 > 0:09:13to clock 'em, I'm going to punch 'em and jump out the car.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19WOMAN LAUGHING AND SHOUTING
0:09:19 > 0:09:22I meet the girls back at the laundrette.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Straightaway I get talking to another trans woman
0:09:24 > 0:09:26hoping to catch a date.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29She tells me more about what it's like to work on 6 Mile and Woodward.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07So the reason you're out on the streets is cos your family
0:10:07 > 0:10:11- didn't approve of...- My lifestyle. - ..you choosing to live like a woman?
0:10:23 > 0:10:27Experiences like this aren't uncommon within the community.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Almost half of all homeless youth in the US identify as lesbian,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33gay, bi or transgender.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39Tiera's afraid her family won't accept her for who she truly is,
0:10:39 > 0:10:41and keeping her life secret has meant having to
0:10:41 > 0:10:43fend for herself on the streets.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46So tell me how it works.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48What they do - they pull up on you here.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50You literally just walk back and forth.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52I usually come out and make sure she's OK. If she gets in a car,
0:10:52 > 0:10:56I'll chalk down the licence plate or put it in my phone.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59We'll meet back here, on the corner where she usually stands.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02I'll stay out here till usually I get too cold, then she knows the routine.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05I'll go home, she'll come and knock, let me know that she's OK.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- If not, then I'll just look for her in the morning.- Right.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18It's not long before Tiera catches her first date of the night.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- Hey, baby.- Oh...
0:11:21 > 0:11:27- He's really trying to date. Don't come all the way.- Just stay there.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30I'll stay right here. Go ahead, you're OK.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Do your thing. Go make your money.
0:11:37 > 0:11:38What's going on?
0:11:41 > 0:11:44It's like this every night. I just stand here like this.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46- Huh?- Oh, my God.
0:11:48 > 0:11:49Suck some dick or whatever.
0:11:51 > 0:11:52Mm-hmm.
0:11:52 > 0:11:5420...60...
0:11:55 > 0:11:56What you working with?
0:11:59 > 0:12:01No.
0:12:01 > 0:12:02INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:12:02 > 0:12:03Huh?
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Mm-hmm.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Yeah, but not for that.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15- This is crazy.- Mm-hmm. It's like this every night.- Crazy.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17I told you, you don't have to be out here for long.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19We've been out here for five minutes.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21I could fuck for hours.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25I'll be back, daughter.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27- Go ahead, baby. Love you.- I'll be back. I'm going to call you though.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30- Yep.- See you.- OK.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35After that, we're going to smoke a bowl and then come back out.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38That's our routine. She has to smoke. Get her mind right.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40We've literally been out here five minutes.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43I told you, it's no work. This is what I go through every night.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45I'll write the licence plate. Run back. If I was by myself,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48I'd be running all the way back across the street to where I live.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50And she meets me in front of my building.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- She's gone?- Yep. That quick. They hit an alley and they go.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57I don't know where he's taking her. I don't know when she's coming back.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59It's just, a sit and waiting game.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02Yeah.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08- This is so crazy.- So... Yeah.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10I can't believe she does this on a daily basis.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Can we go back to the laundromat? Cos that's our meeting spot.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19I do just feel really shocked. And I don't know why
0:13:19 > 0:13:22because I've been talking about this throughout the entire day.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24And I know exactly what it is that she does.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27But just seeing it, you know, first-hand.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32Seeing the guy pull up, seeing her approach him and...
0:13:32 > 0:13:35telling us that she's going, was just so bizarre.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41We're meant to meet her here in like 20 minutes, half an hour.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44I guess we're just going to wait.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47'Julisa tells me that car dates typically last 20 to 30 minutes
0:13:47 > 0:13:50'but a room date in a hotel can be up to an hour.'
0:13:51 > 0:13:55- Julisa.- Yes, ma'am?- I'm so cold! - You want to go back?
0:13:55 > 0:13:57No, we better wait.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- Are you freezing?- Yeah. - Julisa...- It's brutal.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06- This gets pretty grim pretty quick, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09'Tiera's been gone for a long time and Julisa
0:14:09 > 0:14:11'and I are concerned for her safety.'
0:14:11 > 0:14:14- I don't like calling her because I don't want her phone to ring.- Right.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17And let her date know she has a phone and try to rob her.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- Right. - I always wait for her to call me.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- She knows where we are though. - Mm-hmm.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27We said by the laundrette.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33- This is just not fun. - No.- And I'm freezing cold.- Me too.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37And again, an hour to do everything that they do, to only come out
0:14:37 > 0:14:41with 20 or 30, to eat for the night. It's not worth it.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48OK, 80. I said, "OK, well, you get 80 out of the coat."
0:14:48 > 0:14:49He didn't want to do it.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53Finally, at 1.30 - almost an hour and a half after she left us -
0:14:53 > 0:14:54Tiera finally shows up.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58I'm glad I'm smart enough before I do anything with him...
0:14:58 > 0:15:00Because I knew he was going to try to play me.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03You haven't actually done anything with this guy?
0:15:03 > 0:15:06I didn't do nothing with him. I hope that his wife finds that condom
0:15:06 > 0:15:08I stuck on the side of that door. I hope she do!
0:15:08 > 0:15:12I hope she do. Cos you think you got off that easy? You didn't.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- So it was just talking? - Just talking, just wasting my time.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17- I could have been in another car. - So you're no better off?
0:15:17 > 0:15:19You've still got no money?
0:15:19 > 0:15:22I can't believe you've been gone all this time and still got no money.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Just carry! I hate people when they do that.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27- What did you come out here for?! - Right.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29- At least you're safe and OK.- Yeah.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32- The next one's going to be good.- The next one going to get robbed.- No!
0:15:32 > 0:15:37- Come on, Tiera, stop that.- Don't do that. Don't be irritated, be smart.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40- Think of your long-term goal, not short term.- It's frustrating, right?
0:15:40 > 0:15:44- Being out here, it is. I don't like this.- I know.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46I hate coming out here.
0:15:48 > 0:15:49I hate coming out here.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55It's freezing cold. I cannot begin to tell you
0:15:55 > 0:15:58how painful it is to be out in these kind of conditions.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01It's like 2.00, 2.30. It's -15.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07I've never experienced cold quite like this.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11We're all off to bed now, and Tiera is going to
0:16:11 > 0:16:13continue to try and work the streets.
0:16:14 > 0:16:15Hey!
0:16:15 > 0:16:17TIERA LAUGHS
0:16:17 > 0:16:19- He hollered.- Hey.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23This is going to be too much tonight. I can already feel it.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Nearly one third of all the buildings in Detroit are empty.
0:16:31 > 0:16:36Around 70,000 abandoned properties, including hospitals,
0:16:36 > 0:16:40houses and schools are spread out across the city.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43It's quite a sad sight, isn't it?
0:16:43 > 0:16:46All the little lockers just sat there empty.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52You can't help but imagine all the kids knocking about.
0:16:56 > 0:16:57It's surreal.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03This used to be the heart of the American car industry
0:17:03 > 0:17:06and it was nicknamed the Motor City.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09You can still see the remains of car factories like the Packard plant
0:17:09 > 0:17:13and buildings like the main train station, but they're now just
0:17:13 > 0:17:16derelict reminders of how successful Detroit once was.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20It's difficult to believe that there are places like this in the US.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23To me, parts of the city look like a wasteland.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25I've hardly seen anyone out on the streets
0:17:25 > 0:17:28as it's well below freezing out there.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33'Temperatures remain dangerously cold across the Midwest and north-east.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36'21 people have perished as a result.'
0:17:36 > 0:17:38There have been numerous cases of frostbite during
0:17:38 > 0:17:40the extremely cold winter months.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Sleeping outside right now can be life threatening.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47The shelters and warming centres face huge challenges
0:17:47 > 0:17:51and there are less than 2,000 emergency shelter beds in the city.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55Thousands of people rely on these organisations for food,
0:17:55 > 0:17:58showers and a secure place to sleep.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01I'm visiting one of the busiest shelters in Detroit.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04This is The Tumaini Centre,
0:18:04 > 0:18:07which is part of the Neighbourhood Service Organisation.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09It's one of the few places whose doors are open to
0:18:09 > 0:18:13anyone in need - 24 hrs a day, seven days a week -
0:18:13 > 0:18:16accommodating up to 120 people at a time.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19DOOR BUZZES
0:18:19 > 0:18:21INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:18:21 > 0:18:22OK.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27I want to see what the living conditions are like
0:18:27 > 0:18:30for people coming here, so I asked Reggie -
0:18:30 > 0:18:32the Director of Homelessness Services -
0:18:32 > 0:18:34to show me around.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Thank you.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39PEOPLE CHATTERING
0:18:43 > 0:18:46When the homeless people come into the shelter, they come through here?
0:18:46 > 0:18:49They come here. Our monitors stop them.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52They check for ID. They check for weapons.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Many of them carry weapons because they protect themselves.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57And that's why they carry a weapon.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00So they come through the metal detector, then we have a wand
0:19:00 > 0:19:04that we wand them with, to see if they have anything on them.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07We go through their bags to make sure there's nothing in the bags.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Could be alcohol, could be drugs, or whatever.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12All those things are taken away from them.
0:19:12 > 0:19:13They can get...we don't keep it.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16If they want them back, they can have them. But they've got to leave.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18- They can't stay here.- Right.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Typically, what kind of drugs would you find?
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Crack, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, those kinds of things.
0:19:25 > 0:19:30- And weapons? - Usually knives. No guns.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- This is the men's side.- Right.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40We've separated the population - women go on the women's side -
0:19:40 > 0:19:42because many of the men here,
0:19:42 > 0:19:44many of those women have been assaulted,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47some of the men here may have been the ones who assaulted them,
0:19:47 > 0:19:49so we keep the population separated
0:19:49 > 0:19:51so they don't have to deal with that kind of issue.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Makes sense. All of these chairs that we're seeing now,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56is this is where they sleep?
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Yes. This is where they sleep.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03I'm really surprised to see that there aren't any beds here.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07What you see over there is the bins.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09And so, everybody that comes in gets a bin.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Their name is put on the bin and they're supposed to put
0:20:12 > 0:20:15everything they can carry in that bin.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19We don't want to get into taking away a lot of their stuff.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21It deals with their whole psyche.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27This is where all the ladies are?
0:20:27 > 0:20:31They are either waiting to be taken to see a doctor that they've
0:20:31 > 0:20:35scheduled, or waiting for intake, they're waiting for something.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37- It's just a warm space, isn't it?- Exactly.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41Some of them just haven't been to sleep, so it's
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- an opportunity for them to come in, get some rest, get some sleep.- Right.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48In order to come here, you have to be 18 years or older.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50When you've got 18-year-olds coming here,
0:20:50 > 0:20:54what are the reasons that they've found themselves in the shelter?
0:20:54 > 0:20:58Could be, again, mental health. Usually it's mental health or drugs.
0:20:58 > 0:20:59Families don't want to deal with them
0:20:59 > 0:21:03cos they can't deal with the behaviour. So they put them out.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06They have nowhere else to go. They've burned bridges so they can't go to
0:21:06 > 0:21:08a friend's house or a cousin's or whatever.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11So they end up here.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Your body can't take antihistamines.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:21:18 > 0:21:21CONVERSATION CONTINUES
0:21:21 > 0:21:25This room...the only thing I can really liken it to,
0:21:25 > 0:21:31that we're familiar with, is like a doctor's surgery waiting room.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34There's nothing homely about it.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Why do you keep standing in front of the TV?
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- Every five minutes.- All she's doing is messing with her phone.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43Whatever! Whatever!
0:21:43 > 0:21:47INDISTINCT ARGUMENT
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Some people are really frustrated in here.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Understandably so. It's not...
0:21:53 > 0:21:57..the perfect place to be for lots of people.
0:21:57 > 0:21:58But it's warm.
0:21:58 > 0:22:03- Relax or go sit outside.- I can talk to her.- You can't talk to her.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05- I just did. OK.- Go, go.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07INDISTINCT MUTTERING
0:22:07 > 0:22:10I think I'll talk to your supervisor.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Things seem to quieten down fairly quickly inside,
0:22:16 > 0:22:20but outside where it's harder for the organisation staff to
0:22:20 > 0:22:23intervene, I step straight into an argument about drugs.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00- What happened?- He gay. He sucks dick for crack.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03He's my man, cos I'm the motherfucker that gives him the crack.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05But I'm just saying, little nigga,
0:23:05 > 0:23:07you ain't going to do that shit on camera.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09So, niggas come to this bitch and get house.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12- No, I'm going to beat your ass. - Why are you annoyed with him?
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Cos he's gay and he sucks dick for crack.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18Wouldn't you be annoyed if your auntie or grandma smoked crack?
0:23:18 > 0:23:19And then tried to sell you for crack?
0:23:19 > 0:23:22- I'm going to beat that nigga's ass. - Listen....
0:23:22 > 0:23:24I could go to jail for a month.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Listen, you've got enough to contend with without worrying about that.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30Relax.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33'I'm not surprised to see arguments like this one.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36'Understandably, a lot of the people coming here have their own
0:23:36 > 0:23:39'problems to deal with, and the shelter won't turn them away,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42'even if they're high on drugs or alcohol.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48'There's a lot of commotion and many people hanging around outside,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50'but I got talking to 24-year-old Jessica -
0:23:50 > 0:23:53'who has been homeless for six months -
0:23:53 > 0:23:54'and 20-year-old Shaq -
0:23:54 > 0:23:57'who's been living on the streets for over two years.'
0:23:57 > 0:24:00- It's real...it's like... MAN:- Fuck that!
0:24:00 > 0:24:03I don't really try to make friends here because it'd be so much,
0:24:03 > 0:24:08always something going on. I don't want to get involved.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11A lot of staff told me to stay out of that circle.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14SPEECH DROWNED OUT BY SHOUTS
0:24:14 > 0:24:17I only really talk to him, I guess.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21MAN SHOUTING
0:24:22 > 0:24:25You've got to be quite mindful of who you go about with.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27It's dangerous out here.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29All these people, you seen all these people out here?
0:24:29 > 0:24:32- You want to take a look out here? - Yeah, I guess.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36'I can't imagine what it's like to live in this tense environment,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38'Jessica and Shaq seem anxious and on guard
0:24:38 > 0:24:42'and I want to find out how they've been able to survive for so long.'
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Is it easier to have less friends and less people around you?
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- Yeah.- You keep your circle small.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51You have to.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56The people you think are your friends might be your enemies.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59It's a dog eat dog kind of thing out there.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01Tell me about Detroit.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05- Were you born here?- Yeah, I was born in Detroit.- Born and raised?- Yeah.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09- Do you like Detroit? - Yeah. It's rough out here though.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14- In what sense?- In the sense of just like everybody is out for themselves.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Everybody ends up getting robbed, stabbed or something like that.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18If you're around areas like this...
0:25:18 > 0:25:22I've been in situations as a female, as a woman,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26situations you wouldn't even think I should go through.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28I'm 24 years old so I've seen it.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33I know the type of stuff to stay away from. You know what I'm saying?
0:25:33 > 0:25:36If you had the option, if you had the money and the resources,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38would you leave?
0:25:38 > 0:25:41- I would.- It's hard for me to leave. - Hard for you to leave?
0:25:41 > 0:25:43It's hard for me to leave.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48I already had deals where I can leave and go somewhere else but...
0:25:49 > 0:25:53It's hard for me to leave because this is the only place I know.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59To me, Jessica seems scared. She says it's hard for her to leave
0:25:59 > 0:26:03but it's just as difficult to survive day to day like this.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07You can't help but feel for Jessica.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09She's this young girl on her own,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11trying to find her feet in that shelter.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16It's like repetitive chaos in and outside.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19It's carnage, it's constant. It's...
0:26:19 > 0:26:23It serves a great purpose and it's amazing that it exists,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25but it's not easy.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28And she's having to find out all of this by herself.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Detroit isn't how I imagined it to be.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37A lot of the vacant buildings I've come across have been burnt out,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40having been targeted by arsonists.
0:26:40 > 0:26:46Each year around 5,000 arsons cause almost 200 million worth of damage,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49destroying the neighbourhoods and their communities.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Whilst driving around, we heard about a fire happening
0:26:58 > 0:27:01on the west-side at an abandoned property.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Am I all right to jump out?
0:27:04 > 0:27:05I'll be two minutes.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09POLICE RADIO CHATTER
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Oh, my gosh.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22BANGING GLASS SHATTERING
0:27:23 > 0:27:26SIRENS APPROACH
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Shortly after I arrive,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33I get talking to Victor, who lives close by.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35The fire looks bigger than I thought.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39At first I thought it was just a small fire.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42But we didn't know if somebody was in there trying to stay warm,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45or if somebody went in there to deliberately set a fire.
0:27:45 > 0:27:50We don't really know yet. But sooner or later we'll find out.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Am I right in thinking lots of homeless people in Detroit
0:27:52 > 0:27:56go to the vacant buildings when they've got nowhere else to stay?
0:27:56 > 0:27:59- People sleep wherever they can find some place.- Right.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03But we haven't had any problems with noticing the homeless people
0:28:03 > 0:28:07hanging around. We just haven't seen them.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10So we just assumed that they were staying away from that building.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13But now that there's a fire, it makes us wonder.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18- Especially when it's pretty big too. - Yeah.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Some people say that some local residents get pissed off when the
0:28:21 > 0:28:26homeless go and sleep in abandoned buildings in their neighbourhood.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30Yeah, some people get real, real angry.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33They don't have any sympathy for the less fortunate
0:28:33 > 0:28:36and the people who don't have a place to stay or whatever.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39I'm kind of with those people who get angry
0:28:39 > 0:28:43because there's help out here when people don't have places to stay
0:28:43 > 0:28:46and you're homeless or whatever. I was homeless before.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50But I never went and stayed in abandoned buildings or houses.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52Is this a normal scene in Detroit?
0:28:52 > 0:28:54It's normal in certain areas.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58Detroit has too many empty buildings.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02I don't know how long it's going to take to rebuild Detroit back
0:29:02 > 0:29:06up to probably how it was in the '50s or the '60s or the '70s.
0:29:06 > 0:29:11I don't know if they'll ever be able to do it. I just don't know.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16With fires occurring so frequently in the city, many happening
0:29:16 > 0:29:22in vacant properties, it's extremely risky sleeping in abandoned houses.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25But back in Palmer Park, Tiera does this every day.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30I've come back to meet the girls here.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32The buildings in the abandoned neighbourhood where she stays
0:29:32 > 0:29:36used to be family homes. But many people left,
0:29:36 > 0:29:39and some were forced out when they couldn't pay their bills.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42Now, very few of these properties are still inhabited.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46Now that's the house over there I was in.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50I stayed there for like two days. It was so cold I said, I'm good.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54How do you know whether or not anyone's going to be in them?
0:29:54 > 0:29:57I mean, they've been in Detroit for a long time.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59I can just look at a house and see somebody living in it.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02When was the last time you stayed in this home?
0:30:02 > 0:30:05Um... Oh.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07- Four or five months ago.- OK.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12Tiera thinks she's left some of her belongings inside,
0:30:12 > 0:30:15so I follow her and Julisa round to the back of the house.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20This is the window.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23- Be careful. - So you prefer going round the back?
0:30:23 > 0:30:24I like adventures.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27- Through the window?- Yeah! We're bad girls.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30I'll go through the front window.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32- What are you looking for? Your quilt?- My blanket.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35- You want me to go through the front? - Do whatever you'd normally do.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37- That window broke out. - Are you going to open the door?
0:30:37 > 0:30:40- Are you going to open this door? - Yeah, I'm going back here to open it.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42- Are you going through the front window?- Yeah.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Is she going through the front?
0:30:44 > 0:30:47- Is she going to let us in?- Mm-hmm. She's going to try.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50- I can't believe she stays in places like this.- Mm-hmm. Yeah.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53And I've seen it and I'm like, oh, I can't.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57And this is, like I said, nice compared to where she's staying.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00- She got in.- The front door didn't open.- You're in.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02- You got in quick. - See if this door opens.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05- In the back?- Yeah. - Oh, my God, careful.
0:31:05 > 0:31:06- Move back.- Julisa...
0:31:06 > 0:31:08DOOR RATTLES
0:31:08 > 0:31:09We're going to get told off.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12- Shall we go through the window, it's less noisy?- OK.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20This is the Luton coming out in me.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25- I'm coming. - Watch your foot here though.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27- Need a hand?- Yeah, thanks, hon.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31- You're welcome.- Wow. This is like a proper family home, right?- Yeah.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33It is. It could be fixed.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37This is what it looks like, so you can have an idea of where they sleep.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42It's basically just a shell.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44Somewhere you can sleep and not be bothered, but it's not safe.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47It's not clean, as you see.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50- It's not any warmer. - I thought it would be warmer.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53There's no working water. The bathroom's over here.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58People that stay in places like this,
0:31:58 > 0:32:02- this is the bathrooms that they have to use.- Oh, my God.- It doesn't flush.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04You can tell the people that have stayed here.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08Everyone just chalks on the wall. That's basically what you do.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12Can you show me where you were sleeping?
0:32:12 > 0:32:14- Yeah.- Is that all right?- This way.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19You were saying you think you might still have a quilt here?
0:32:19 > 0:32:23Yeah, I still do. It's up here.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27- Have you got it? - It's right here.- Where is it?
0:32:27 > 0:32:31- In there.- Oh!- It's still here.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34- I thought it was gone.- This is where you slept, in this cupboard?- Yeah.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38This is pretty much where I'm at.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42- That's crazy.- Yeah.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46I try to keep a lot of heat,
0:32:46 > 0:32:48considering it's a house, it's still cold.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51And I had a date bust this window out.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53Almost fell out the window.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57- Crazy.- So what, you had a client in here?- Mm-hmm.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00- And then you slept in this cupboard?- Yep.
0:33:03 > 0:33:04- SHE MOUTHS:- Fuck.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08Hey, guys, I think it's important you see this.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10- OK.- Be very careful before you come in here.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13The amount of girls and people that come into these houses,
0:33:13 > 0:33:16cos from this room, you can tell what happens in here every day.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19- Look what's all around the floor. - Ah, all right.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21The condom's been used.
0:33:21 > 0:33:26You can tell...there is literally one, two, three, four, five,
0:33:26 > 0:33:28six used condoms.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Wow. I just...yeah.
0:33:33 > 0:33:38I never knew that...this is what they use the abandoned houses for.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40I just thought they sat empty.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Like, I understood that squatters slept there...
0:33:42 > 0:33:44This and selling drugs.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48I switch up houses because I don't want people to be watching me.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50So I kind of switch up.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54- Yeah?- Yeah.- So you never go the same abandoned house twice?
0:33:54 > 0:33:56- Uh-uh.- Right.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58You feel like that keeps you safer?
0:33:58 > 0:34:01Yeah, cos anybody could be watching me coming home
0:34:01 > 0:34:05when I'm done working. And I have money on me.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09You going to take the money? You're not taking any of it.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11I can't believe you slept in that cupboard.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Yeah. I'm surprised my blanket is still there.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16- Are you working tonight?- Yeah. - You are? Here.
0:34:16 > 0:34:17I will be taking that.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24- Give me the bag too. - Make sure that you use them.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28- I need a bag though. - There you go.- Girl...
0:34:28 > 0:34:31- Let's get out of here. - Yeah. It smells, doesn't it?
0:34:31 > 0:34:33- You don't want to get your quilt? - Uh-uh.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36- I'm going to come back later and get that.- Watch yourself!
0:34:37 > 0:34:40It's worrying that Tiera has to live like this.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42The more time we spend together,
0:34:42 > 0:34:46the more I appreciate how difficult her life's been for the past
0:34:46 > 0:34:49six years, and how severely she, and the other young people
0:34:49 > 0:34:53I've met here, have been affected by their surroundings.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59Heavenly Father... Thank you for this day, Father.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01Thank you for all the gifts that you've given me.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03The gift of life. The gift of another chance.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06Thank you, Father, for all you do for us.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08Amen. ALL: Amen.
0:35:08 > 0:35:13It's 3.00pm and I'm at the Detroit Rescue Mission's men-only shelter
0:35:13 > 0:35:16to meet 21-year-old Martel, who became homeless
0:35:16 > 0:35:18after he was released from prison six months ago.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22He agreed to let me follow him inside.
0:35:26 > 0:35:31Sign for the meal. Sign for your shower.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35Is this quite standard? The guys come in, they sign themselves
0:35:35 > 0:35:39- up for a shower, a meal and a bed. - Shower, meal and bed.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42Yeah, shower, meal and bed, like I said.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45Once I've run out of the 70 beds in there, I offer them a chair with us.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48We put these tables up, set all the chairs down.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51- You can sit in a chair with us, out of the elements, all night.- 70 beds?
0:35:51 > 0:35:54- 70 beds.- That's quite good. That's quite a lot.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58- Goes pretty fast. Goes pretty fast.- I'd say so.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01- Martel, you have bed 62 tonight. - 62?- Yes, sir.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04Thank you. Can I come and see your bed?
0:36:04 > 0:36:06Oh, yeah.
0:36:07 > 0:36:08- MAN:- The face of Detroit.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12Hey, girl! The face of Detroit.
0:36:12 > 0:36:13Hello!
0:36:16 > 0:36:18So what's...?
0:36:20 > 0:36:24- Hello.- He said 62?- 62. You're 62. - 62 is all the way at the back.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26MEN SHOUTING
0:36:26 > 0:36:28- 62?- I think it's against that wall.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30Thank you.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33INDISTINCT SHOUTS AND WHISTLES
0:36:39 > 0:36:40Here you are.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44Here we go, right here.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46- This is you for the night, right?- Oh, yeah.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50- I'll be sleeping with the comforters. - Someone's left you a book.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52HE LAUGHS
0:36:52 > 0:36:54The Panther.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57Number One New York Times best-selling author.
0:36:57 > 0:37:03- Your kind of flow? - Oh, no. Not really. You know?
0:37:03 > 0:37:06How does it work? Do you always have the same bed?
0:37:06 > 0:37:09Oh, no. You get a different bed every time you come in.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13Get yourself a meal, take a shower if you want.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16They close the shower at a certain time. You watch TV.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18You can't watch TV out in front.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20How comfortable are these?
0:37:20 > 0:37:22- The face of Detroit.- Oh.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25'The men using the shelter felt uneasy with the me being
0:37:25 > 0:37:29'in the sleeping area so I caught up with Martel in the main room.'
0:37:29 > 0:37:32What's the plan for next couple of months?
0:37:32 > 0:37:36- Hopefully I'll be in a BMW or something.- Really? That quick?
0:37:36 > 0:37:39- Oh, yeah. Just like that.- They're not cheap.- It's all about hope.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42I'm going to be in a BMW in a couple of months.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44So this is temporary for you?
0:37:44 > 0:37:47Oh, yes. This is temporary. I'm not going to stay out here.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50- This lifestyle's scary.- Yeah. - Ain't going to lie to you.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53What's scary about it? Be honest with me.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56To tell you the truth, it feels like I'm still incarcerated.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59- Huh?- I feel like I'm incarcerated, to tell you the truth.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01- Still in prison?- Yeah.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04Get up at 5.00, 4.00 in the morning and told what to do.
0:38:04 > 0:38:08How to move, how to eat, how they feel.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11Ain't nobody trying to live their life, the rest of their life, man.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13All these different types of guys around, you don't
0:38:13 > 0:38:16know too much about them. You stay to yourself. Stay focused.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20Keep paying attention, anything could happen, you know what I mean?
0:38:20 > 0:38:24If this shelter wasn't here, where would you be right now?
0:38:24 > 0:38:26- On the streets?- Oh...
0:38:26 > 0:38:30Probably so. Probably so.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34That's why I thank God this place was here for me.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36Yeah.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41I can understand why Martel feels as though living here
0:38:41 > 0:38:44is similar to prison, but at least they have beds.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46It seems regimented
0:38:46 > 0:38:49and so different from the other shelter I visited.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52I asked Bradley - one of the monitors - to tell me more.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55I walked through that brown door six years ago,
0:38:55 > 0:38:59homeless, out of mind, crack addicted, alcohol addicted,
0:38:59 > 0:39:03spiritually dead. Didn't know what to do.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06Family didn't want me, but the Detroit Rescue Mission
0:39:06 > 0:39:09opened their doors and told me, come on in, Keith.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12We will love you until you learn how to love yourself.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15It can't be easy. I've seen a couple of the lads that come in here.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18Some of them still have that street mentality.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20It's hard to shake that off.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23- Yeah, we deal with numerous personalities around here.- I bet.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27You have to have patience, tolerance, love - all that.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29It's traumatic.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32All of a sudden you're sleeping with 60, 70 other guys.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34You're standing in line to get your food.
0:39:36 > 0:39:37Normally, when you think of homelessness
0:39:37 > 0:39:41you think of people that are on drugs. Alcoholic, derelict.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43But people lose their jobs now. You know what I mean?
0:39:43 > 0:39:47People have house fires. This is a new homeless now.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49There you go, sir.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Martel was waiting in line for a shower, but I want to find
0:39:52 > 0:39:57out more about him, and his plans to improve his situation.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59How do you pass the time?
0:39:59 > 0:40:04- Just kick it here.- Huh?- That's how we pass the time, just sit back, relax.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07- What, on the pavement? - Oh, yeah, yeah.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10All around. These my streets, yo.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15Hopefully I'll get hold of some money. That's what I need.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17How do you make money?
0:40:17 > 0:40:22I rap. I used to rob people. Rap for it now.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24Camera, me - rapping.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27- Are you rapping tomorrow? - Huh?- Are you rapping tomorrow?
0:40:27 > 0:40:29Oh, yeah. I rap every day.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32- Give me a line. Show me what you've got.- All right.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35I'll show you what I've got. Uh..
0:40:35 > 0:40:37Uh. Uh.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40HE RAPS: I've been in this shelter For about six months
0:40:40 > 0:40:43Seen a lot of tough niggas Come and go
0:40:43 > 0:40:45But it's a different flow Like always
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Cos every day I'm thinking About getting paid
0:40:48 > 0:40:50Fast lane, took a wrong whirl
0:40:50 > 0:40:53It was mad even on that ground, boy
0:40:53 > 0:40:55Looking at life with no justice
0:40:55 > 0:40:58No father figure No mother for me, no
0:40:58 > 0:41:00Cold, the soul I've got my snub-nosed blown
0:41:00 > 0:41:03Tellin' the bass-heads I get to tour in their sack.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06- See, I do a little rhyming.- Ah!
0:41:06 > 0:41:08You're not mucking about.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10Yeah, you know.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14- And that rap's about your life? - Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18In your rap you're saying Mum's not always about, Dad's not here.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21- Are your folks around? Your parents?- Oh, yeah.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25- My people are somewhere around. - Part of your life?- But, hey...
0:41:25 > 0:41:27It is what it is. You know?
0:41:27 > 0:41:31When you got out of prison and you came here,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35is that the first time you had to use this kind of shelter?
0:41:35 > 0:41:37Yeah, this is the first time. Hopefully the last time.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41I know it's the last time. Oh, yeah.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43I know it's the last time.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53I can tell that behind all Martel's talk that he's finding it hard here.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56I want to spend more time with him
0:41:56 > 0:41:58so I asked him to show me where he used to live.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04Over there, that used to be the weed spot right there.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07- That was where you got your weed? - Oh, yeah.- That building?
0:42:07 > 0:42:11- I got into a couple of fights in there.- I bet you did.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14How old were you when you first went to prison?
0:42:14 > 0:42:18First time I went to prison I was about...
0:42:18 > 0:42:23- I'd say about 13.- 13?!- Yep.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27How many times have you been inside? Roughly.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30- Couple of times.- What for?
0:42:30 > 0:42:32Uh...
0:42:32 > 0:42:36Actually, I caught manslaughter. I caught murder before.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40I caught a carjacking charge but they overlooked a lot of the charges.
0:42:40 > 0:42:45Depending on some of the situations that occurred at the crime scene.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50- They're serious.- Oh, yeah. - Serious allegations.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53Oh, yeah.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56I had a couple of deep charges, you know.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58- But you got off them?- Oh, yeah.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03Is this the first time you haven't had a fixed address?
0:43:03 > 0:43:06Um... Basically, yeah.
0:43:06 > 0:43:11It's really caught me by surprise. That's what it is, a surprise.
0:43:11 > 0:43:16That's why you've got to prepare yourself for everything and anything.
0:43:16 > 0:43:20Life is never over, you know what I mean, as long as you're breathing.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25Further down the street we come across Martel's old school -
0:43:25 > 0:43:27Highland Park Career Academy -
0:43:27 > 0:43:30which has been vacant for over five years.
0:43:30 > 0:43:33To tell the truth, this is where it all began.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37- Right here.- What began? - Rap, you know what I mean.
0:43:37 > 0:43:40First time I started hearing about rap was right here.
0:43:40 > 0:43:42- In this building.- You and your mates?
0:43:42 > 0:43:44Was.
0:43:46 > 0:43:51It's crazy, I bet, for you to see it like this now. It's changed so much.
0:43:51 > 0:43:55It's tore down. The neighbourhood doesn't even look the same.
0:43:55 > 0:43:58Looks different, right?
0:43:58 > 0:44:01- Yeah, it does.- Does it feel weird seeing it like that?
0:44:07 > 0:44:08Martel?
0:44:08 > 0:44:10I don't even know.
0:44:11 > 0:44:13What's going through your mind?
0:44:22 > 0:44:25- You OK?- Oh, yeah.- Sure?
0:44:28 > 0:44:30What are you thinking? Tell me.
0:44:30 > 0:44:32It's...
0:44:33 > 0:44:36It's just bringing back a couple of memories, you know what I mean?
0:44:36 > 0:44:37Just want to get lost.
0:44:42 > 0:44:43What memories?
0:44:53 > 0:44:54Martel?
0:44:54 > 0:44:59- Are you OK?- Oh, yeah.- Sure? What are you thinking?
0:45:00 > 0:45:04Nothing. Just the irony of standing here.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09- How your life's changed?- Oh, yeah.
0:45:09 > 0:45:13How so much has just...overwhelmed me.
0:45:16 > 0:45:22Yeah, I bet when you were younger you never imagined
0:45:22 > 0:45:27that your circumstances would be how they are.
0:45:30 > 0:45:32HE SIGHS
0:45:35 > 0:45:38You're brave and you're strong, but you're still young.
0:45:38 > 0:45:43- Yeah.- You know, you have to deal with a lot. You've taken a lot on board.
0:45:44 > 0:45:45This is hard.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49Hell yeah.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54HE SIGHS
0:45:54 > 0:45:56Sky looks perfect, don't it?
0:45:57 > 0:45:59Yeah, it does.
0:46:01 > 0:46:04I was really shocked by Martel's reaction.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07He was so overwhelmed by seeing his old neighbourhood and thinking
0:46:07 > 0:46:12about how different his life is now, that he just stopped talking.
0:46:12 > 0:46:14Martel's community has changed,
0:46:14 > 0:46:18and he seems like a refugee in his own city.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21But his determination, I hope, will help him
0:46:21 > 0:46:24to work his way out of homelessness.
0:46:29 > 0:46:31- Hi.- Hi!
0:46:31 > 0:46:33- How are you?- How are you? - It's good to see you again.
0:46:33 > 0:46:36- You look lovely.- Thank you. So do you.- Nice coat.
0:46:36 > 0:46:40'Back in Palmer Park, Julisa and I want to get in touch with Tiera,
0:46:40 > 0:46:43'or Poochie as she likes to call her.'
0:46:43 > 0:46:44PHONE DIALS
0:46:44 > 0:46:46Where are you, Poochie?
0:46:46 > 0:46:49'The person you called has a voice mailbox that does not...'
0:46:49 > 0:46:51I can't even leave a message.
0:46:51 > 0:46:53Is that cos she hasn't got any credit?
0:46:53 > 0:46:58- No, her voice mail's not set up yet. - Ah.- She didn't set up a voice mail.
0:46:58 > 0:46:59Where is she, then?
0:46:59 > 0:47:02Probably walking around trying to make some money.
0:47:02 > 0:47:05- You hear the loud music, that means it's warm today.- Right.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08- So she'll be working in the day. - Everybody is walking around.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11There's been times when she stays out literally all night.
0:47:11 > 0:47:15It's just horrible. She gets no sleep. It's not healthy.
0:47:15 > 0:47:18I'm hoping that it's a survival thing for her
0:47:18 > 0:47:21- and not a lifestyle that she gets caught up in.- Mmm.
0:47:21 > 0:47:25Sometimes I know Tiera isn't always lucky enough to find
0:47:25 > 0:47:28an abandoned building or, you know, an occupied basement.
0:47:28 > 0:47:30What happens then? Where does she go?
0:47:30 > 0:47:33Either her cousin's or she'll just stay out and work all night,
0:47:33 > 0:47:35until she feels it's daytime
0:47:35 > 0:47:38and goes to a friend's house or somewhere she can sleep a few hours
0:47:38 > 0:47:41until it's time for her to come out and do it all over again.
0:47:41 > 0:47:43She's done that to you a couple of times?
0:47:43 > 0:47:44She's literally been out all night.
0:47:44 > 0:47:47Yeah, she'll go out at like 10.00 at night. Come back in the morning.
0:47:47 > 0:47:50I can just tell that she's tired and defeated.
0:47:50 > 0:47:51I'll ask her how her night is.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53She'll tell me that she didn't make one date.
0:47:53 > 0:47:56And I'll ask her, well, why didn't you come in to get warmer?
0:47:56 > 0:47:59And her mentality is - I have to stay out there until I catch something.
0:47:59 > 0:48:02- Has Tiera ever stayed with you? - Yeah, she has.
0:48:02 > 0:48:04She stayed with me for like seven, eight months
0:48:04 > 0:48:07when I originally met her. The apartment that I'm in now,
0:48:07 > 0:48:10unfortunately my space is not conducive to housing somebody.
0:48:10 > 0:48:12It's a lot smaller. So I help her in the basics.
0:48:12 > 0:48:15I make sure that she eats every day, check in to make sure she's OK.
0:48:15 > 0:48:18She knows that if it's cold outside she can chill there all day.
0:48:18 > 0:48:20Does Tiera ever use the shelters here, no?
0:48:20 > 0:48:22No, unfortunately she doesn't.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25Cos they don't house transgender women with women or like,
0:48:25 > 0:48:27separate us. They'll house you with men.
0:48:27 > 0:48:30- Unfortunately... - Because biologically you're a boy?
0:48:30 > 0:48:31Right. So unfortunately,
0:48:31 > 0:48:34because there are people who aren't as open-minded or comfortable,
0:48:34 > 0:48:37she doesn't want to go there and feel like she's being ridiculed,
0:48:37 > 0:48:39or it not be safe.
0:48:39 > 0:48:42Cos you're dealing with a whole bunch of different people.
0:48:42 > 0:48:46Unfortunately, she'd rather come out here and do the battle we see her do.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51I think it's very sweet to see Julisa and Tiera.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54And see how they both knock about together.
0:48:54 > 0:48:56That is a really strong friendship.
0:48:56 > 0:49:00I think you have to have a pal out here.
0:49:00 > 0:49:02You have to be so resourceful.
0:49:02 > 0:49:06And if you haven't even got one person that you can call on
0:49:06 > 0:49:09and you can rely on, it makes it even more difficult.
0:49:09 > 0:49:10Near impossible.
0:49:13 > 0:49:15Being homeless for a long time can make it difficult to
0:49:15 > 0:49:17integrate back into society
0:49:17 > 0:49:21and deal with deeper issues like drug or alcohol addiction.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24But a housing project that's the first of its kind in Detroit
0:49:24 > 0:49:27is helping to improve people's chances.
0:49:27 > 0:49:30The Bell Building was a derelict warehouse,
0:49:30 > 0:49:34transformed into 155 apartments for the homeless.
0:49:34 > 0:49:36They offer people a home, and the stability to work through
0:49:36 > 0:49:39the problems that kept them on the streets.
0:49:39 > 0:49:42I'm meeting former drug addict Kenneth who,
0:49:42 > 0:49:44after years of homelessness, is now a resident here,
0:49:44 > 0:49:48and has a full-time job as a substance abuse counsellor.
0:49:51 > 0:49:54- This is my little area. - Is it OK to come in?- Yeah.
0:49:54 > 0:49:56This is a nice space.
0:49:56 > 0:49:58'Kenneth's apartment overlooks an old factory
0:49:58 > 0:50:02'not dissimilar to places he lived in when he was homeless.'
0:50:04 > 0:50:07I'm so happy because I come right in from work.
0:50:07 > 0:50:11I just... Oh, I got a chair I can just...
0:50:11 > 0:50:13SHE LAUGHS
0:50:13 > 0:50:14..do that to.
0:50:16 > 0:50:17I love this life.
0:50:17 > 0:50:21For some people it would be like, oh, this is a small-ass apartment. Shit.
0:50:21 > 0:50:22Is it mine?
0:50:24 > 0:50:28I mean, living as opposed to survival.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30You know, you're able to live now.
0:50:30 > 0:50:35I'm able to go do what I want to do without looking over my shoulder.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37This is a beautiful day to be responsible.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40That's the whole thing, responsibility.
0:50:40 > 0:50:44It's my responsibility to take care of my life.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47I didn't have responsibilities, now I have them.
0:50:47 > 0:50:50I love it when rent time comes around
0:50:50 > 0:50:53and I'm able to pay my rent, no problem.
0:50:53 > 0:50:55I love it when it's time for me to pay my phone bill.
0:50:55 > 0:50:57Even though it's high.
0:50:57 > 0:51:01I love that because I didn't have that before. That's what I had.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03Shit like that.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06- You look at that right there. - It's so ironic.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08It's like, what the fuck, for real? SHE LAUGHS
0:51:08 > 0:51:10It's like they knew you were meant to come here.
0:51:10 > 0:51:13It's like, yeah, this is you. This life you know.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15But damn, that's the life that I could have had.
0:51:15 > 0:51:16It must bring back memories as well.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19You know what it's like sleeping in that kind of environment.
0:51:19 > 0:51:24You get a chill sometimes thinking about it. You do.
0:51:24 > 0:51:28My mum used to say I transitioned from a thug to a man.
0:51:28 > 0:51:32I said, no, Momma, I ain't going to say all that.
0:51:32 > 0:51:35I say, I went from nothing to somebody.
0:51:35 > 0:51:38It took a long time.
0:51:38 > 0:51:41But these are the end results, and this is my constant reminder.
0:51:41 > 0:51:44- That's all it is. - It's such an achievement.
0:51:44 > 0:51:47'Having a home has changed Kenneth's life,
0:51:47 > 0:51:51'and although projects like this one can't solve homelessness overnight,
0:51:51 > 0:51:53'it's having a huge impact.
0:51:53 > 0:51:56'A recent study in the US found that giving homeless people
0:51:56 > 0:51:59'a place to live is cheaper than supporting them on the streets,
0:51:59 > 0:52:03'and a more effective way of helping people get back on their feet.
0:52:08 > 0:52:12'I've grown very fond of Tiera and Julisa during my time here,
0:52:12 > 0:52:15'and want to catch up with the two of them before flying home.'
0:52:16 > 0:52:18Did you catch a date last night?
0:52:18 > 0:52:23No? How long did you wait to catch a date before you left?
0:52:23 > 0:52:26I waited for like an hour. Everybody was bullshit and playing.
0:52:26 > 0:52:30It was so cold. I just got to a point where I just said, I'm good.
0:52:30 > 0:52:31Yeah?
0:52:32 > 0:52:36When you've had a rubbish night, you know, if you haven't caught a date,
0:52:36 > 0:52:38do you feel added pressure the following day?
0:52:38 > 0:52:40You've got to make up the money that you lost?
0:52:40 > 0:52:43Oh, hell yeah. You got no money.
0:52:44 > 0:52:45SHE SNIFFS
0:52:45 > 0:52:48But I try not to let anybody see. I try not to.
0:52:48 > 0:52:53Like, if I'm upset and I get in a car, I'll just leave that alone.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56I don't want anybody to know I'm going through it.
0:52:56 > 0:52:58Everybody's always got something to say.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01Like this one guy...
0:53:01 > 0:53:03I hope he sees this too, so he can know how it feels.
0:53:03 > 0:53:06Cos you're never going to know how it feels.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09He disrespected me. I walked into a bar, I went into a bar.
0:53:09 > 0:53:13I washed up, took a shower. He walked up to me. "You stink."
0:53:13 > 0:53:16I was just, no. He walked up to me and said,
0:53:16 > 0:53:18"What did I tell you about coming to the bar like that?"
0:53:18 > 0:53:20And I was looking at him like, what did you say?
0:53:20 > 0:53:23He was like, "Smell it." When he said that, I was like,
0:53:23 > 0:53:28"Oh, OK. I'm running with a lot of people, but I don't stink."
0:53:28 > 0:53:32Tiera, tell me the honest truth. Be completely real with me.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34Does it hurt your feelings
0:53:34 > 0:53:36when people say you don't look a certain way because
0:53:36 > 0:53:39you're homeless, you smell a certain way because you're homeless?
0:53:39 > 0:53:42- Um...- Tell me the truth.
0:53:42 > 0:53:45Sometimes. Well, yeah, it does. But I just don't care what anybody says.
0:53:45 > 0:53:49I don't. I don't care what anybody says. But it does.
0:53:52 > 0:53:55- Yeah. - But I'm happy with the way I look,
0:53:55 > 0:53:59because it's how I have to look right now. So, deal with it.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01VIDEO PLAYS ON PHONE
0:54:09 > 0:54:12Why do I have to go through the shit I go through?
0:54:12 > 0:54:14From being in foster care...
0:54:15 > 0:54:18I did what I had to do in school.
0:54:18 > 0:54:20But after high school...
0:54:24 > 0:54:26I'm just falling so down.
0:54:29 > 0:54:33I've never let myself get so low. I'd never want that for nobody.
0:54:37 > 0:54:39You were saying you've got a boyfriend.
0:54:39 > 0:54:44I do but I can't let the person I get with have way more money
0:54:44 > 0:54:46than me. I don't want that.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50I don't want it. I want to have more money than that person.
0:54:52 > 0:54:54But you want to love him as well, right?
0:54:54 > 0:54:57Yep. I want somebody that's going to love me for who I am, regardless.
0:54:57 > 0:54:58In the future, I'm going
0:54:58 > 0:55:01to tell whoever I get with the things I used to do.
0:55:01 > 0:55:04I'm going to tell him. See how it makes them feel.
0:55:06 > 0:55:09Is that your biggest worry, that you'll be alone?
0:55:10 > 0:55:12Yeah.
0:55:19 > 0:55:22It was difficult to see Tiera so down.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25She and all the people I've met during my time here
0:55:25 > 0:55:27are going through hardship,
0:55:27 > 0:55:30similar to those facing homeless people all around the world.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33But I've never been to a place like Detroit.
0:55:33 > 0:55:35Right now it feels like a broken city,
0:55:35 > 0:55:40and it's hard to believe it's in one of the richest countries on Earth.
0:55:40 > 0:55:44But somehow, people are managing to survive here, they're fighting to
0:55:44 > 0:55:49get back on their feet, in a city that's determined to do the same.
0:55:50 > 0:55:54When you've hit rock bottom, when you're really up against it,
0:55:54 > 0:55:56you have to...
0:55:58 > 0:55:59..you have to want it to change,
0:55:59 > 0:56:02and you have to believe that it's really going to happen.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05Because I think that's the only thing that keeps you going.
0:56:11 > 0:56:13We have shots fired over here.
0:56:13 > 0:56:17Next time, I'm in Chicago to look at gun crime.
0:56:20 > 0:56:23I don't want to sell drugs, I don't want to carry a gun.
0:56:23 > 0:56:25It's easy to say but it's hard to do.
0:56:25 > 0:56:27You know, we're not in a warzone,
0:56:27 > 0:56:29we're not in a country that's going through a civil war.
0:56:29 > 0:56:31We're in Chicago.