0:00:02 > 0:00:06This programme contains some strong language and some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting
0:00:06 > 0:00:08Sleeping rough is becoming a reality
0:00:08 > 0:00:10for more and more people in Wales.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14The number of homeless are on the increase
0:00:14 > 0:00:16and now they exceed 10,000.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21I never thought this would happen to me. No, never.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25I wanted to discover why people became homeless,
0:00:25 > 0:00:27how they manage to survive
0:00:27 > 0:00:31and why the largest numbers of homeless people are here in Swansea.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36For some, the only option is to try and survive on the streets.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40If you're strong-minded, then you can do it.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42If you're not strong-minded,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46the only thing you'll end up doing is ending up in a box.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52And following the lives of those with nowhere else to go
0:00:52 > 0:00:55would prove to be an upsetting story.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Filmed over three months in the run-up to Christmas,
0:01:11 > 0:01:13toughest time of the year for the homeless,
0:01:13 > 0:01:16this is the reality of living on Swansea's streets.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28The homeless can end up spending all their waking hours
0:01:28 > 0:01:31trying to find even temporary shelter.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35Sleeping rough and surviving outdoors is exhausting,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38leaving little energy to find a permanent place to live.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47I first met Georgica,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51a migrant from Romania, five weeks ago.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56He's been homeless in Swansea for around three years.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Go sleeping? Go where I sleeping?
0:02:01 > 0:02:04I got used to Georgica's way of communicating.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Since he came here, he's never had a proper home.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10I followed him from the shopping centre
0:02:10 > 0:02:13and soon we arrived at a house.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17Amazingly, the door was unlocked.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Georgica became anxious and wanted me to keep quiet.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37I didn't know what was happening and he couldn't really spell it out.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48I assumed that the residents had no idea
0:02:48 > 0:02:52that Georgica was actually sleeping in their loft.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Hostels and housing projects
0:03:33 > 0:03:36provide 80 beds for the homeless in Swansea.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40But at any one time, there can be as many as 500
0:03:40 > 0:03:44urgent cases of homelessness on the council's list.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48And getting to be housed can be fraught with difficulties.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55Alan has been homeless on and off for 14 years.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59He came to Swansea from London and decided to stay.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05- Where are we heading, Alan? - To Access Point, just over there.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08An emergency bed.
0:04:08 > 0:04:09For the third night.
0:04:11 > 0:04:12Hopefully.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Alan's a long-term rough sleeper, but for the last two nights,
0:04:15 > 0:04:20he's had Swansea's one and only emergency bed,
0:04:20 > 0:04:23which he gets through this local charity.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28- You back for the bed?- Yeah. - What's your name?- Alan Raynor.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30- I think Carl put my name down. - Yeah, your name is down.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35- Give us 10 minutes, mate, yeah? - All right. No problem. Cheers.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37There's one other person, Sarah,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40who's put her name down for the bed, as well.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42She's been homeless on and off for three years.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Alan? 6 o'clock, mate, you've got the bed.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Have you got somewhere you can go tonight?
0:04:51 > 0:04:52- No.- You haven't?
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- Sarah didn't get the bed. - You've got the bed, Alan.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58- I know. I just feel bad. - It's all right.- I know, I know.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02- I just feel bad.- Don't feel bad. You haven't done nothing wrong.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04You've got the bed, just be happy about that.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06All right. Thanks very much.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Women out on the streets
0:05:08 > 0:05:11are usually considered to be at greater risk than men.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14But this time, Alan gets priority
0:05:14 > 0:05:17because he has health problems made worse by sleeping out.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21It gets worse in the cold weather. Very painful.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24I've got it in my hands at the moment, as well.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26I've even got it in my elbows.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Any, any joint at all, you can get it.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33First thing in the morning, it's a nightmare.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37It takes about 10-15 minutes to get going. Huh!
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Now, because of his poor health,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Alan is at the top of the waiting list for one of these flats.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51I was offered that first of all, one of the brand-new ones,
0:05:51 > 0:05:53but they've all been taken.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56So they're trying to push through one of the other ones
0:05:56 > 0:05:57that were there for some time.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Family break-up is one of the many reasons
0:06:03 > 0:06:06why people can find themselves on the streets.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10And sometimes, it can happen quite unexpectedly.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Helena has spent four nights in the cold and wet.
0:06:15 > 0:06:21Not getting enough sleep takes its toll.
0:06:21 > 0:06:22It's making me ill.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27I think I need some kind of help, you know, temporarily.
0:06:27 > 0:06:28It's just too much.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34This church is now a day centre
0:06:34 > 0:06:37run by the Cyrenians charity who help the homeless.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Helena can at least get a meal and dry out here.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44She told me that her roots are in Pembrokeshire
0:06:44 > 0:06:49and that she'd been living in Egypt, where she taught English.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54Helena married an Egyptian, but the relationship broke down.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02It could happen to anyone who goes through divorce,
0:07:02 > 0:07:04especially an international divorce,
0:07:04 > 0:07:06where you find yourself
0:07:06 > 0:07:10in the situation you need to re-establish
0:07:10 > 0:07:14and, um, it obviously takes a little time to do that.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18And if you don't have people to support you
0:07:18 > 0:07:22or people who you thought were there for you who are suddenly not there,
0:07:22 > 0:07:26then you have to try to do it alone.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29And at the moment, that's impossible.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32So you need, obviously, the help of people like this, in a day centre.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37She had a home, a job and a family,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40but now she's back in Wales with next to nothing.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48Helena has no alternative now but to rely on charity.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51And she has to ask for money for winter shoes.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55So if I can go with that guy to Primark, that will be quite useful.
0:07:55 > 0:07:56Yeah.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00So, um,...it's just a question of, like,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03you know, practical needs, isn't it?
0:08:03 > 0:08:06- Yeah, yeah. That's fine. - Christine, the Cyrenians manager,
0:08:06 > 0:08:10arranges for one of the volunteers, Roger, to go with her to buy shoes.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14- What, are they just uncomfortable? - Well, I struggle with walking.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26These were just a little bit more...
0:08:26 > 0:08:28That's all right. I've got the money.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33- We'll have to ask Christine to maybe...- Don't worry about it. - ..Give an extra five pounds.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35- I've got it. Don't worry. - Is that all right?- Yeah.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Thank you. It's very kind of you.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40If you need something and you need to look after your health and safety,
0:08:40 > 0:08:45then, you know, you just have to be thankful for small mercies.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05So this was my home for nearly...
0:09:05 > 0:09:09I don't know, four days or so, about a week ago. Right here.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15Um...well, it was a question of going around to get cardboard boxes
0:09:15 > 0:09:18and use those as a groundsheet and then just, er...
0:09:18 > 0:09:21The people in the hostel give you blankets.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24As you can imagine, at night-time, it's not very nice.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28People have got here and sprayed black all over the floor
0:09:28 > 0:09:31and sprayed the walls. And all kinds of...
0:09:32 > 0:09:34..not very pleasant things.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Alan's checking in with the Cyrenians.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Because of his poor health, they've been helping him
0:09:48 > 0:09:50to get off the streets for years.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57It's Gaynor from the new housing...
0:09:57 > 0:10:01One of the housing associations has been trying to get hold of him.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04Right.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Right. Thanks, Gaynor.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Yeah. Take care. Yeah. Bye.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Huh!
0:10:14 > 0:10:15I've got a flat.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17HE LAUGHS
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Made my day. Huh!
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Made my day, that has.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24Been to the dentist, overcome that,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27now I've got a flat in 10 days' time.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Alan can't believe the news.
0:10:33 > 0:10:34I've got one of the places.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36- I move into one of the flats next week.- Right.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39- One across the road. - You've got one of the other flats?
0:10:39 > 0:10:41- Yeah.- Oh, well done. Nice one.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44- Oh, I'm glad they got back to you today, anyway.- Yeah.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48As a teenager,
0:10:48 > 0:10:52Alan had great prospects as a professional golf coach.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55I was preparing golf clubs, teaching people how to play golf.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59Earning very, very good money for then,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02as an 18 year old.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Had its perks, as well. I could play anywhere in Europe for nothing.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09It was a good life, actually. Very good life.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12But the good times were short-lived.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Alan's downfall was alcohol,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18which resulted in him being separated from his partner
0:11:18 > 0:11:20and daughter.
0:11:28 > 0:11:29SIRENS WAIL
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Many of the homeless and street people I met were alcoholics
0:11:36 > 0:11:39and were convinced that the police had it in for them.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44One of them has just been given a ticket.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47- This on tape?- What's that?
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Section 27.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54There we are, there's the boot.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59If I'm not out of that perimeter in 15 minutes,
0:11:59 > 0:12:01I will be arrested.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Yes, definitely, 15 minutes.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06There we are. Read it, if you like.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09We were drinking on the streets. They don't like it, you know.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11They want us all off the streets, man.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13They're afraid of us, yeah?
0:12:13 > 0:12:15And that's it, like, yeah?
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Section 27 is being used by the Swansea police
0:12:20 > 0:12:23to remove anyone from the town centre
0:12:23 > 0:12:27who they think might commit a violent crime.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32Another rough-sleeper has been moved on by the police.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35I was minding my own business. I was drinking Lucozade.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38I wasn't even drinking that, it was in my pocket. Lucozade.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40And he told me to move on or he's going to arrest me.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42That's what I'm angry about.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45On the same evening in Castle Square,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48the police apprehend two more people.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50And one of them is Alan.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Over the years, he's been issued with countless Section 27s
0:12:54 > 0:12:57ordering him out of the town.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00I haven't done anything! Nothing!
0:13:00 > 0:13:02When you sat up there, they were all drinking.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05They've tagged you for drinking with them.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10- What did they say?- They had a go at me because, you know, I'm drinking.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14Again! Two in two days, I've had.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Mr Raynor, it's been explained to you. On your way, please.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21If you don't leave, you will be arrested. It's entirely up to you.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- I'll leave.- On your way, then. OK?
0:13:24 > 0:13:25- What for, though?- Go on, then.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28- What have I done? - Say it again?- What have I done?
0:13:28 > 0:13:31It's been explained to you. It's time to go, isn't it?
0:13:36 > 0:13:39I-I-I haven't even... I haven't even got a can on me!
0:13:44 > 0:13:48The next day, I wanted to ask Alan about his drinking.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52He told me that both his parents were alcoholics
0:13:52 > 0:13:54and he's known nothing else.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57I can remember it so well. My first drink...
0:13:57 > 0:14:00was half a pint of wine. Huh!
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Half a pint of white wine.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06After about 10 minutes, it took effect and I thought, "Ooh!"
0:14:08 > 0:14:10So I had some more white wine and that was it.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16Alan's swollen and painful joints are a symptom of gout,
0:14:16 > 0:14:18which is linked to excessive drinking.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20And there have been times
0:14:20 > 0:14:25when he was consuming 700 units of alcohol a week.
0:14:25 > 0:14:30The highest recorded amount of units per week by my nurse,
0:14:30 > 0:14:35which, working out, is 15 litres of white cider a day.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38To be honest, I'm not very proud of it, really.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42In fact, I'm quite surprised I'm still here, really.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45Now the cold is making his joint pains even worse
0:14:45 > 0:14:49and it's becoming ever more pressing that Alan gets off the streets
0:14:49 > 0:14:51and into the flat he's been promised.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56But then Alan has a knock-back.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58I'm just a bit annoyed, you know.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01I should've moved in by now but there's been a bit of a mix-up.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05At the Cyrenians,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08he's trying to find out if he will still be getting the flat.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10I went to the meeting this morning.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Obviously, we've got to do everything we can to get you housed
0:15:14 > 0:15:18in the short time before Christmas, because I know that's your goal.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20But we're still working on it at the moment.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24It's all right. Don't worry about it. We'll get something sorted.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28- It's just trying to get it all done as soon as we can.- Sure.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32For now, Alan just has to wait.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42Christmas is coming but the recession is hitting the charities
0:15:42 > 0:15:44on which the homeless depend hard.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50For most Christmas shoppers, money is tight.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59I wanted to find out about one of the guys
0:15:59 > 0:16:02who'd had a run-in with the police.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07Tell us where you're originally from, Paul.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10I was born in Salford, Manchester in 1963.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16Erm, I grew, I grew up in Stretford, went to school in Stretford.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Got beaten up and abused by my father.
0:16:19 > 0:16:24Run away from home, 14th birthday. Never been home since.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26I just keep wandering round the country.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Paul's just come across the Severn Bridge.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33He told me he'd actually walked much of the way.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Tell us how you ended up in Swansea.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Erm, I was in Bristol for a while.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Decided I needed a change,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45somewhere I'd not been to for a long, long time.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50I heard some good things about Swansea.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53Things have changed, obviously. So I ended up here.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56I've got no bills, no responsibilities.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59All I've got to look after is me.
0:17:07 > 0:17:13Three days later, Paul allowed me to film him first thing in the morning.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17It's 7.30am, it's still dark and it's freezing.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23He's laid claim to one of the most sought-after locations
0:17:23 > 0:17:25for sleeping rough.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28It's dry and no-one passes through.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Good morning, Chris.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35HE COUGHS
0:17:35 > 0:17:39Many times I should've died of hypothermia or something, many times.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43I've slept on boats, Brighton beach in winter.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47Erm, eight weeks under a boat. That was cold.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56Paul carries more kit than anyone else I met on Swansea's streets.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00It's all useful gear but he can't leave it here or anywhere.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Gotta keep the burglars out, haven't you?
0:18:18 > 0:18:21He might be a newcomer to Swansea
0:18:21 > 0:18:26but he's already worked out where to get free meals and a shower.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Morning, ladies.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35There's my ladies.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37HE LAUGHS
0:18:37 > 0:18:42He heads to Zac's, the early morning port-of-call for rough sleepers.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Here they offer warmth and a free breakfast
0:18:45 > 0:18:48for all of Swansea's homeless.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56HE GROANS That's better.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59- I see you're sat outside, Paul. Why's that?- I always do.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02I don't like the... I don't like enclosed spaces.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05If I've had a few beers and that, it doesn't really bother me.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08I don't care who's shouting or whatever.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12But, you know, first thing in the morning, "Go away and leave me alone.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15"Let me have my fag and coffee and wake up."
0:19:15 > 0:19:18It's a good life, really.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20If you can handle it, I suppose.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27As the weather gets colder, the hot meals dished up at the Cyrenians
0:19:27 > 0:19:31are a godsend for all kinds of people down on their luck.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37But Alan's heading to the Cyrenians for a different reason.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40He still doesn't know if he'll get into his flat before Christmas.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44Sorry about all the confusion
0:19:44 > 0:19:47but after our meeting this morning
0:19:47 > 0:19:51we've decided that the best place for you would be the new building.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53That's excellent.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- It's even better than excellent because it...- Oh, God.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59- It's just perfect.- Yeah.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02- So no wild parties now, Al. - Aw, come on!
0:20:02 > 0:20:05I won't make it too loud but there will be a party!
0:20:06 > 0:20:10Before Alan can take on the tenancy, the staff give him a tour.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15- Got to get my key.- Thank you.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24- The fobs are separated.- Yeah. - They both open the front door.- OK.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27This is the shared living room and lounge.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31It's a brand new apartment he'll share with one other.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Bloody nice, innit?
0:20:37 > 0:20:40- That one opens this. - Look at that!
0:20:43 > 0:20:47- That's it for the flat, really, the building.- Fantastic, innit.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Everything about it is just...
0:20:51 > 0:20:54I'm starting to get a bit overwhelmed, really.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Yeah, Christmas. Brand new flat.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Huh! I can't believe it.
0:21:05 > 0:21:11But Alan just has to get through one more weekend before he moves in.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17At one of the soup and sandwich runs, the ladies from a local church
0:21:17 > 0:21:22are on duty and Paul the drifter turns up for the very first time.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27- I wouldn't mind some coffee in mine. - Coffee.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- Would you like sugar with your coffee?- Two, please, love.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32- Paul Bell, my name is.- Paul Bell. - Yeah. I'm feral.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35You know the word feral? What does that mean?
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Is that a sweater? Fair Isle?
0:21:37 > 0:21:40It means you live off the land.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43- So where are you from? You're not from Wales, are you?- No.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46No. You couldn't afford to be in Wales. I'm from Manchester.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- Manchester.- Yeah. Born and bred.
0:21:49 > 0:21:54- What's brought you down this way, then?- You lovely Welsh ladies.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Anything tonight I cannot complain about.
0:21:57 > 0:21:58If I could I would, but I can't.
0:21:58 > 0:22:04Coffee's cold, but what the hell? It's a good thing.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Alan's moving into his own home
0:22:14 > 0:22:17and he's doing his first domestic shop in years.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23I mean, you wouldn't be getting shopping on the streets.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Leave the butter out, it'd probably get frozen overnight.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Once I get used to this shop I'll be all right.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31It's getting used to the shop.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35Usually he's heading straight for this aisle.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38I'm staying away from it today.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49- Hiya, It's Alan. Hoping to get in. - OK.- All right, OK.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Right. There you go.
0:22:53 > 0:22:58Today he has to meet the staff to go through the tenancy agreement.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Alan will have to stick to the house rules that forbid
0:23:01 > 0:23:04any unreasonable behaviour.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09It's a lot to take in.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Is that actually... No, that's fixed in.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28I haven't sat on it yet, actually.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Oh. Ha-ha! Mm.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Yeah. I could get used to that!
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Better than cardboard. A lot better than cardboard.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Helena, who ended up becoming homeless
0:23:58 > 0:24:01because of a marriage breakdown, also has news.
0:24:03 > 0:24:08I've finally been offered a hostel place at Dinas Fechan.
0:24:08 > 0:24:14I've got the support I need to sort of get on, get back on track.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Dinas Fechan is a hostel run by one of Wales'
0:24:16 > 0:24:18biggest homeless charities.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22- Helena!- Hi.- How are you, all right? - Surviving.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Do you want the good news? You've got a room.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Thank you.
0:24:34 > 0:24:40The hostel has 15 beds and is one of four for the homeless in Swansea.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Well, it's like sort of going back to being an undergraduate student.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47It's like going back 20 years or something.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Somewhere to hang up my coat.
0:24:49 > 0:24:54I've got people around me and a support network so it's, erm,
0:24:54 > 0:24:56hopefully an end to the exasperations.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Hopefully, the worst is over, now.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Three nights ago I was in a train tunnel
0:25:03 > 0:25:06underneath Swansea train station
0:25:06 > 0:25:09and now I've got a garden to overlook
0:25:09 > 0:25:14and all mod cons, so it's looking, it's looking hopeful.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21But getting off the streets isn't usually this straightforward.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29Shortly after Alan moved into his flat, he invited everyone
0:25:29 > 0:25:34round for a party and it got seriously out of control.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36As a result, he was asked to leave.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41I feel really bad about what's happened because, obviously,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44you know, I think I upset the staff as well.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48But I just found it really hard to go from being on the streets
0:25:48 > 0:25:50to somewhere as new as that.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52I couldn't cope with it, really.
0:25:52 > 0:25:57Alan's now been moved to more suitable accommodation
0:25:57 > 0:26:00that can give him 24/7 support.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04And with all the stress, he's drinking more.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17Alan has few people to turn to and he's lost touch with all his family.
0:26:26 > 0:26:32Lost my dad, lost my brother, lost, lost our mother.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Lost everyone.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46For anyone with a drink problem,
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Christmas is a real challenge.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50In Wales, seasonal drinking
0:26:50 > 0:26:55escalates to almost double that of the rest of the year.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58And it's the same story for those on the street,
0:26:58 > 0:27:02but they drink to escape the realities of their lives.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05You've got to get out of that depressing business.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08- I know, I know what you're saying.- I can't. I can't do that.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11But you have to snap out of it. I've done it.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14You've got a flat. You can't sit there, feeling sorry for yourself.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19Look at me, for fuck's sake. I'm a happy chappy. Keep on chuckling.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21That's all I've got to say, man. Keep on chuckling.
0:27:22 > 0:27:27But this heart to heart is short lived.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Oh, come on.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33Don't have a go at me. It's my daughter's birthday.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Is this alcohol?
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Alan is still learning to cope with life indoors
0:27:46 > 0:27:50and I've had my eyes opened to how getting off the streets
0:27:50 > 0:27:53can be as fraught as life on the streets.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00Next time, it's Christmas,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03and there are still people sleeping rough on Swansea's streets.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06I wonder what happened to the star.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12There's desperation for those facing the prospect
0:28:12 > 0:28:14of sleeping rough over Christmas.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Georgica gets the emergency bed for almost a week.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22- Tonight, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.- Tuesday.- Five days.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25- Wow!- Six o'clock, yeah? OK?
0:28:25 > 0:28:27- Thank you very much! - No problem, mate.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29- Take care. - Merry Christmas, my friend.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31HE SINGS
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Ha-ha! Bye-bye, Chris!