Episode 2 Swansea: Back on the Streets

There we are. There it is in one.

And this is our home.

'Swansea has become a magnet for homeless people,

'and now their numbers are on the increase.

'For many, the only option is to sleep rough in any place they can.

'I'm Chris Rushton and together with Tracy Harris, over a year ago

'we followed the desperate plight of Swansea's homeless.

'Now we have returned to find out if things had changed...'

It's just dangerous to be walking the streets.

'..to discover how the homeless survive...'

When was the last time you seen it like this?

'..and how today's recession

'and cutbacks are hitting those least able to cope.'

I want to sort myself out,

but no-one's doing nothing for me.

No-one's doing nothing!

This programme contains some strong language.

'I've spent ten weeks filming in Swansea

'and now I want to find out about the lives of the long-term homeless

'who are managing to survive on the edge.

'Susan's one of these.

'She's been homeless, on and off, for ten years

'and now temporarily stays with friends.

'It's known as sofa surfing.'

It's hard out there when you're homeless.

People think it's easy, but it's not.

The risks you've got to take.

There's a lot of danger there.

Lots of danger.

'On one occasion, sofa surfing turned nasty.'

The bloke who put me up did try raping me.

The police, they then got involved in that.

He tried to keep me hostage for a couple of days.

I got out with a black eye, and I just run, I just run.

'With no place of her own, Susan's desperately insecure.

'She drinks to escape the daily reality of life.'

'Biggest downfall is I drink.'

Yeah, biggest downfall ever.

I'm shaking, because I haven't got a drink in me.

'She gets withdrawal symptoms if she tries stopping,

'and being a street alcoholic also carries other risks.'

Can we have your can of alcohol, please?

Don't go drinking it, now.

Don't go drinking it. No, no, no!

I'll buy you one later.

'I'd witnessed homeless people being stopped by the police many times.'

-What's your date of birth?

-28th of the second, '76.

'She's been given a Section 27 order, banning her from town.'

Are you aware that you're not allowed to drink in the city centre?

The fact that we believe alcohol-related crime

and disorder to occur, we are banning you for 12 hours

from the city centre, cos you've got no reason to be here, right?

-This is a copy of the map I'm providing you.

-I've had the boot.

No, I've had it, I don't want it.

I've had the map. I've had the boot, yeah.

-I've had the boot.

-It's not a boot, it's a map.

It's the shape of a boot.

'In the last 15 months, the exclusion zone

'known as "the boot" has expanded.'

It's a bigger boot now.

What are they on about?

Castle Gardens, there, there, there.

That's the boot. That's the boot. Have one of them.

Get out of town, type of thing, isn't it?

-How often does that happen, Susan?

-All the time.

Cos they can't stand my face.

'She heads to the friends where she's been staying.'

Here we are. My mate lives on the tenth floor.

'Doors closing. Lift going up.'

'The tower block is rundown and the flat is riddled with damp.

'People are coming and going -

'none wanted to be on film - and she's had enough.'

-Susan!

-What, love?

It's not nice. My head is screwed.

Being homeless all these years, and there's the police as well.

What can I do?

I'm banned again for 24 hours. What can I do? What?

It's madness...

'She's even thinking about ending it all.'

Go ahead and jump, and just...

I don't like looking down.

What's it feel like when you have to come and scrounge off somebody?

Mortifying, to be honest with you. Mortifying.

I don't like it at all. It's not nice.

I put my legs up here and go to sleep

and I just go like that. See?

It's like a bed to me, isn't it?

-If you're homeless, you just sleep anywhere.

-I

-would.

Just curled up in a ball.

'We met Susan this time on our second three-month stint with

'Swansea's homeless.

'And 15 months ago, we met the one and only happy homeless,

'Paul, living on the streets.

'This was Christmas morning.'

Fishing rod.

'He was opening presents left by a local who'd befriended him.'

Welsh shirt.

You know what's funny about this?

I've been sat here all night hungry -

look what I've just found in this bag.

Sausage rolls!

So that's my Christmas.

'He's a drifter who's been on the road most of his life.

'After five months in Swansea, Paul left.

'We lost touch and I wanted to find him again.

'Our quest led us across the country to Kent.'

Paul!

Hello! How is everybody?

It's great to see you, man.

It's great to see you.

-Are you all right?

-I'm fine.

-How are you?

-I'm great.

I am. Getting older, but I'm great.

This is Roxy.

Welcome to Canterbury.

'Since leaving Swansea, he's travelled the length

'and breadth of Britain.'

London, Bristol, Bath,

Swindon. Er...

Maidstone.

All sorts of places.

'Wherever he goes, he meets lots of people,

'but there are only a few who Paul allows to become close to him.'

-This is Erin, my friend.

-Hello, you all right?

'She's a Welsh woman living in Canterbury.'

He's a lovely bloke, and ever since we met,

I always make sure he's all right. Pop and see him.

Love him, he's awesome. Paul's the friendliest person down here.

Really sweet, like.

-Isn't he, now?

-Mm-hmm.

-You love Roxy, don't you?

-Yeah.

No! No, no, no!

'All through the winter, Paul's been sleeping out,

'even when it's well below freezing.'

I see people every day.

I get called tramp and all sorts of things.

But if the tables were turned,

these people calling me things like that,

they wouldn't last five minutes out here.

Not like I do.

PAUL PLAYS DRUM

'Paul finds Canterbury more easy-going than Swansea.'

I'd love to stay here for the rest of my life,

but I ain't ready for that commitment.

I need to be able to move. People get too close.

I like to have that border where it's just me and them.

As long as I can walk, I'll keep on shuffling. Always will do.

Down the streets, I reckon...

I'll move on down the streets.

'Now, Paul's on the brink of leaving

'Canterbury for somewhere new.'

'Back in Swansea, it's the first time we'd filmed the homeless

'when the winter weather is at its worst.

'Scott has been homeless on and off for much of his life,

'which began in Llanelli.'

I was on the streets when I was 15, like.

I was extremely shook up about being put out on the streets.

It did set me into suicidal mode a couple of times, as you can imagine.

It really got me down.

Quite extensive, really.

It shattered my life, really.

'He once was a van driver, but now he's on the streets.

'He told me he'd recently been evicted from one of Swansea's

'hostels for the homeless.'

My pitch is just round the corner here, you know?

This is it.

OK.

'I follow him around the back of some flats.

'And there's an unlocked door.'

I'll just get my head down there, and that's me for the night.

Dry, warm, and I've even got a light.

Preferably, hopefully peace until I wake up.

'Scott continually gets moved on by the residents,

'but it's so cold outside, he keeps sneaking back in.'

'All the homeless people we met were on benefits.

'Now it seems the benefits agency are coming down harder on those

'who miss appointments or who are not looking hard enough for work.

'Many more now turn to the Access Point charity for help

'when their benefits are stopped.

'Susan's here to use the phone.'

I went to the Post Office this morning to see about my benefits,

because I'm due for a payment today, and there's nothing in there.

OK, thank you very much for your help.

OK, thank you. Bye now, bye.

Bye.

They forgot to put my money through.

Had to be me of all people, didn't it?

SHE LAUGHS

-Oh, good God.

-Right, see you later, thanks! Ta-ra!

'A converted church run by the Cyrenians charity is now

'a drop-in centre for those desperate for help.'

-There you are.

-Thank you very much!

'Since Scott took me to his stairwell squat,

'I discovered that he actually has a bed in a hostel,

'but he told me he was avoiding the problems he was having there.'

They nearly evicted me this morning, because I can't get proof of...

..of...you know...

proof of my income for the last couple of months.

Bank statements and stuff.

If I don't produce that today, they said I'm going to be evicted,

so, I don't know if that's the case or what.

'Being homeless makes it hard to deal with the basics.'

When I'm signing on, I just can't stick to the rules,

I can't stick to the appointments and I can't teach them

along the lines where I'm trying to fit other things in my life,

like trying to get food for the day, somewhere to stay for the night.

They start... I just can't answer... all these appointments.

Appointments are clashing, I'm on probation.

Benefits are stopped again.

'Some of the homeless people we met live chaotic lives

'and this is often made worse by drink or drug addiction.

'For years, Susan was addicted to heroin.

'She would shoplift when she was desperate for drugs or food.

'She's off heroin now,

'but it's caused lasting tensions with her family.'

I can't stay at my parents',

because my sisters are working as prison officers.

It's not fair on them.

Me and my criminal record and I don't know what, so...

I won't to put my family through it, anyway.

Problems I've had, all the years.

'She's been trying to find somewhere to live,

'but in the meantime stays with friends.

'Over the winter, there is

'another option for some of Swansea's homeless.

'For the second year, the churches are now providing night shelters.'

Oh, your hands are cold!

'But, because it's run simply by volunteers,

'they can't risk letting anyone in who might be carrying drugs

'or alcohol, or those with a violent history,

so all the homeless people have to be assessed in advance.'

'I ran into Scott. He's got a problem.'

I've been evicted from the hostel, from The Strand there, now.

'So, he's applied for the church shelter for tonight,

'but first he has to find out if they will accept him.'

It's Rebecca calling from Outreach.

Yeah, that's the diabolical situation that I'm in at the moment.

'But, the police searched the Dinas Fechan hostel

'where Scott was staying, and found a syringe with

'an uncapped hypodermic needle.'

I forgot I had it on me, and when they found it,

if he did get stabbed, if you did get jabbed by it -

I'm not sure if he did or not - but he weren't amused.

He cuffed me straight away.

'His support worker wants to help.'

Whose was the pin, then? Was it your pin?

No, it was someone else's.

Why did you have somebody else's pin in your pocket?

I don't get that, to be honest.

-Because...

-Foolish.

-Foolish.

You know, that's just it, isn't it?

That was just my luck.

So that means that now you've been classed as intentionally homeless,

which means... Because you've had the hostel place,

you've been thrown out,

which may mean you're intentionally homeless,

which means the council haven't got a duty to you.

Which means your only option would be privately rented.

So I've intentionally made myself homeless now.

'Now, he has to get the results of his application

'for the church shelter for tonight.'

Right, unfortunately, Scott,

the Swansea night shelter won't accept you,

and that's due to some risk assessment that has been

passed on to them, as we discussed previously.

A risk of carrying one single syringe?

-Yeah, that was one of the things.

-That is ridiculous.

I can't get involved in the reasons

why you were evicted from Dinas Fechan.

If a bed space becomes available in one of the other hostels,

-they will contact...

-It's a load of bollocks.

I'm going. It's a load of bollocks. Excuse me. Sorry.

A load of bullshit.

It's called discrimination.

I'll wrap up my stuff and leave you all in peace.

Fuck it, I'll go back to Llanelli.

Chances of any night shelter, accommodation of any kind...

I think that's a little bit...

I've been tested every week.

Once a week, every week.

I'm negative for opiates and all of that, you know?

I'm off it.

I don't drink.

What's the problem?

Overnight shelter, like, you know?

I'll see him and see what we can do, all right?

It might take a while, but it mightn't.

-It depends what properties he's got.

-Yeah.

So what are you going to do now, Scott?

Try and find myself a squatting place. You know?

Things are not looking good today.

'Homeless people are vulnerable

'and often become the victims of unprovoked attacks.

'Ever since the attempted rape, Susan's prone to anxiety.'

It is dangerous, coming from darkness and then going into a property.

It is dangerous.

You know what's funny?

I don't know why, my nerves and everything are very bad news.

People jumping out of them bins.

Having some of them jump out. Seriously.

Because they're not secure.

'All afternoon, Scott's been looking for somewhere to sleep.'

I found a vehicle

and I got my kit in there.

'The temperature is set to drop to minus five tonight.

'He meets some of the other homeless.

'They have beds in the church shelter.'

So you're going to be across the road tonight in the car?

-Freezing my nuts off.

-And we'll be in there in the warm.

And I might be in hospital tomorrow with pneumonia. It's a possibility.

-It's not on. It shouldn't be happening.

-No, exactly.

-Not in this day and age.

-Get something sorted, man.

-Don't be out here, man.

-OK, yeah.

'Evicted from the hostel and rejected by the church shelter,

'he heads for some abandoned cars which aren't locked.'

There we go.

Bit stiff, like.

I wouldn't want to get trapped in here.

Believe it or not, there's a bedroom in here.

There we go.

You know, it's that claustrophobia,

being in a confined space like this.

In the early hours, someone might...

You don't know what walks of nature might -

do know what I mean? - venture into the area.

It's not fun at all.

Honestly, no. Chris, mate, no fun.

'It was so upsetting knowing the others had the comfort of

'the night shelter, yet Scott faced a night alone in the freezing cold.'

'The next day, he's the worse for wear.'

The fact I'm on the streets in this severe weather...

It's ridiculous.

'The Access Point charity are helping him, but he doesn't

'understand how to sort out his benefits that could pay his rent

'and get him a roof over his head.'

Just look for somewhere, right?

Go on the internet or whatever you want, have a look,

see if you can find anything in your price range.

-I knew it was too good to be true.

-We can sort it out.

We can! You've got the money. You've got all the money to go.

So what you need to do is find a place. You've got a place.

-Right, I'm not...

-All right?

-Nice one.

Thank you. Thank you.

'He's got a list of landlords and agents to get through.'

Hello? All right, mate. Scott, it is, mate.

Yeah, all right, mate? What was the rent again?

How much was the rent per week?

OK, can I have the address or will you be giving that to me Monday?

Just wondering what part of the area.

Thank you. Speak to you Monday.

Thank you! Ta-ra, mate. Thank you.

'In the meantime, he's still out in the cold.

'He's chosen to sleep in a different abandoned car.'

Oh, Jesus.

Oh, my God.

'While Scott's trying to find somewhere to live,

'each night he has to survive in freezing temperatures.'

'We'd arranged to meet Susan.

'Straightaway, we knew something was wrong.'

Oh! What I going to do now?

It's all right, babe.

Don't know what's happening. Coming back and forth...

-I know.

-The situation I'm in is just....

-Tell us what's happened.

-What happened, Sue? Tell us.

You went up there?

I went to Collin's and I didn't stay there,

but there's young people back and forth.

I don't know what's going on, but I am out of place,

cos it's his property, isn't it?

And he's going to go Monday now.

The council have been and say I'll know on Monday where I'm going to go.

Fair play to the gentleman that's Collin, he had put me up.

But where am I going to go now? After that, where am I going to go?

On the streets?

'The flat has been condemned as unfit to live in.

'Now, she's been told she has to go.'

What I going to do now?

I don't know.

I really don't know. I don't know.

Oh! I can't believe this.

'She has to find somewhere else to stay,

'otherwise she could end up on the streets tonight.

'She heads to the Access Point.'

What's the problem?

The place I was staying in is going.

It was a temporary thing.

And, cos it's going, I've got to find somewhere else myself.

You need to go to Housing Options, really, and see what they say.

-What time do they close?

-They close a bit early on a Friday.

But if you go up there now, somebody will be there.

-I will.

-Go up there now.

-Thank you.

'She has just minutes to get to the council's housing office,

'but she's unable to cope.'

SHE CRIES

'Now, we've become so involved in Susan's plight, we feel we have

'to help her, as she's in danger of ending up out in the cold tonight.'

See you in a bit, Susan.

Yeah, thank you very much.

'There's only ten minutes left before the office shuts.

The Arches, down The Arches.

'She's got a bed and breakfast.'

I'm buzzing now. I've got it for the weekend. Monday, look out.

Oh, I'm buzzing!

'At any one time in Wales, there are over 1,000 individuals

'and families in temporary B&B accommodation.'

Ah, that's so good.

Look at that.

Fair play to them.

Oh!

'The B&B could give her the break

'she needs to find somewhere permanent.

'After weeks sleeping rough,

'Scott has also managed to find a place, and today, he's moving in.

'He's made a big effort to clean up.'

You know, I had a blade hit me.

HE LAUGHS

'He's with his support worker, Rebecca.

'At the landlord's office, she makes sure he understands the terms.'

-No subletting the property. That means renting out rooms.

-I understand that.

-There you go, Scott. There's your key.

-Thank you.

Look after it, don't lose it.

-What, the flat or the key?

-Both!

'He can move in straightaway.'

For £85 week, I think it's ideal, you know.

Cos it's self-contained, you know.

Isn't it? It's not bad.

It's not small, not tiny.

That's the bedroom, that's the kitchen.

'The flat's unfurnished,

'and Scott told me he has no money to spend on the basics.'

-There we are, sorted.

-Thank you, Rebecca. Thank you for your time.

Thank you very much.

Well, this is a start of a new life, really, isn't it? You know.

Pray to God I don't lose it now, otherwise I'm stupid.

You know what I mean? Oh, should be caution enough, like.

'Four weeks had passed since we last saw Susan.

'She'd since left the B&B.'

I was homeless for, well, a good couple of years.

But now I've got a property now.

I've got the key.

And then we're in now.

-Can we have a look round?

-Course you can.

At least I'm not in the cold. I'm not in the cold, so at least I'm happy.

This is clean, tidy. I clean it myself.

Give me two...three...four bottles of bleach, I'm happy.

I am. Bleach, happy.

'It's a private rental found with the help of the Access Point.'

But, at least I've got a bed to lay in.

Look at that. See? Like that.

I'm comfy.

I have got a bed. I've got a bed.

'I've realised that, for some who have been homeless,

'getting their own place can be fraught with difficulties.

'After just two weeks in HIS flat, Scott's struggling.

'He still hasn't completed all the paperwork to sort out

'his benefits, and the bills are coming in.'

I've got a flat, I've got a roof over my head now. Things are working out.

But every time I find things are working out right for me,

then things go spiralling out of control, go wrong for me.

HE COUGHS

'Within days, his homeless friend, who's also broke, has moved in.

'Scott feels obligated to help.

'What are we going to do now, Scott?'

Come on, Sean.

Known him most of my life nearly, yeah. Schooldays, anyway.

Seems to be on my back all the time!

'Scott's missed an appointment with his probation officer

'and now has to appear in court 14 miles away.

'He hasn't got any money, so we helped him out with the bus fare.'

Here to catch a bus, Sean, isn't it?

There, isn't it? Oh, up there, is it?

So you're in a bit of a rush this morning, really?

Yeah, of course.

Yeah, a rush for court.

'Sean wants breakfast,

'but Scott knows what would happen if he missed court.'

Llanelli Police would soon have me.

They must be the sharpest about in Southwest Wales, like.

-We've got 30 minutes.

-They're at 21 minutes past.

'They're hoping there's still time to go to the cafe,

'so Scott asks the driver

'if the next bus will get him there on time.'

-What time have you got to be in court?

-Ten.

Come on this one to be sure. That one could break down, couldn't it?

-Yeah.

-It's not going to break down.

There's one here at 20 past, says here.

But you've got to get from the bus station then to court, haven't you?

Go on, there's only a couple.

Plus, it's not far from...

Right, come on, boys.

Come on, I'm going to be late.

Are you coming on this bus or not?

Come on.

Just come on.

You'd be warmer.

There's a 20 past, anyway.

Takes 25 minutes, that bus.

I'll kill him.

I tried to get rid of him, but everywhere I go he's like my shadow.

'Sadly, this was the end of my relationship with Scott.

'I heard that he jumped a train and made it to court,

'but was four hours late.

'And, within a fortnight, he'd left the flat and disappeared.

'I'd discovered some of the Swansea's long-term

'homeless are the hardest for local charities to reach.

'They live chaotic lives,

'often plagued by complicated personal problems and addictions.

'Their prospects for improvement are minimal and, shockingly,

'almost a quarter of all street homeless have attempted suicide.'

Next time, back on the streets of Swansea.

The churches and charities battle to get

the homeless off the streets and out of the cold.

They've saved my life. They have.

And even those with little experience of sleeping rough

can end up in dire straits.

What's happened? What's happened to my life?

And now the homeless make ready

for some of the harshest weather in years.

-Blanket here for you, anyway.

-Any different colour ones here?

It's just you keep giving me pink ones.

He likes you.

It's not funny, man!

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