Episode 3 Swansea: Living on the Streets

Contains some strong language

That's my bed for this evening.

'Sleeping rough is becoming a reality

'for more and more people in Wales.

'The number of homeless are on the increase,

'and now, they exceed 10,000.'

I never thought this would happen to me. No. Never.

'I wanted to discover why people became homeless,

'how they managed to survive

'and why the largest numbers of homeless people are in Swansea.

'For some, the only option is to try and survive on the streets.'

Thank you.

If you're strong minded, you can do it.

If you're not strong minded,

then the only thing you're going to end up doing

is ending up in a box.

'And following the lives of those with nowhere else to go

'would prove to be an upsetting story.'

'It's the last days of my three months filming on Swansea's streets.

'And now that Christmas is coming,

'it's an especially tough time for the homeless,

'many of whom are separated from their families.

'In the summer, there are usually around 40 homeless people

'sleeping rough in and around Swansea.

'But now, as winter sets in,

'most try and find anywhere they can indoors.'

Big Issue, please?

'With Christmas just five weeks away,

'a hardcore group of around ten homeless people

'still remain living on the streets.

'One of them is a homeless drifter who turned up two weeks ago.'

Waterproof jacket. Someone might be able to use it.

'Paul is a newcomer who's settled quickly into life in Swansea.'

Let me take you to my home.

'He's teamed up with one of the local homeless, Andy.'

This is where we're going.

This is where I sleep.

So, we've both got sleeping bags.

I have two, but one of them I gave to him

to lay down on it off the concrete.

I've got me mat, me, so I put this on top of it.

I sleep very well, to be honest with you.

Where the hell's that come from? There's a load of condoms, mind.

-HE LAUGHS

-I don't want them.

I've only known this guy a couple of days

and I tell you what, honest to God, he's just even Stephen.

In the last three nights we've been here, it's been brilliant.

If you got thrown out of your house

and you had nowhere else to go, what would you do?

-Find me.

-What would you do?

-Find me.

-Where would you go?

-Find me. I'd put you up.

-I feel safe, yeah.

-Why do you feel safe?

Because I've got good company.

-Where do you get that from, then?

-You.

'Andy has only been on the streets for six days,

'after being recently released from prison.

'But unlike Paul, he finds it more of a challenge.

'Gavin ended up on Swansea's streets after he broke up with his wife.'

I wonder what happened to the star?

Oh, but it's nice. Look at this. You know?

Obviously, it's closing now, but during the day,

you see them queuing up with their mums and their dads. It's like,

"Oh, we're going to see Santa." And smiles on their face.

It's heart-warming, you know. It's nice. It's nice to see.

I wouldn't mind going to see Santa myself, to be honest.

'Gavin has spent the last four months on and off sleeping rough.

'It's really hard for anyone in his position to get off the streets.

'Finding even a rented room is difficult,

'so the only option is to try and get into a hostel for the homeless.

'But with over 2,000 registered homeless around Swansea,

'the competition for the 80 beds is stiff.

'This 13-bed hostel is run by the Cyrenians,

'a charity who have been working with the homeless for over 40 years.

'24-year-old Kali is one of the lucky ones

'and has been here for four months.'

This is my place.

I've actually got one of the bigger rooms in the hostel,

so, it's, um...it's quite nice.

'Two years ago, Kali had a fulltime job with a bookmakers.

'But her hours were cut and she couldn't afford to pay the rent.'

Everything started falling apart.

So I basically, through my work

and the lack of hours they were providing, lost my flat.

'With nowhere to live, most young people would return home.

'Kali doesn't have this option as she's fallen out with her mum.'

It was just, sort of, I suppose your typical rows

that you have when you're a teenager and you...

"I'm going to live on my own." Um...

There was a bit more to it with my mum because we didn't really get on.

She's not really...a maternal person, anyway.

And it just sort of pushed me to the edge.

'Even though Kali has a place in a hostel,

'officially, she is still homeless.

'With the hostel's help,

'she's hoping to find somewhere permanent to live before Christmas.'

I'd rather be out working, doing a 40-hour week than...

sitting here having to play Frustration through boredom.

'Christmas is just four weeks away.

'Most of those still on the streets have gathered on the Kingsway.

'This should be a good time for giving,

'Ever resourceful, Paul conjures up hot soup

'for his less-fortunate mates.'

'All of them will be sleeping rough tonight.'

It's dangerous to sleep on your own.

So if you can...like, I'm with a couple of friends now,

try to sleep together.

I'm going to get my head down.

'I'd realised that Paul was a bit different from the others

'and often needed a break.'

That's my bed for this evening.

I shall sleep very well.

Nice and warm, out of the rain.

All I'll do is pull this along here.

Put the lid up.

No wind, no rain.

No people.

Peace and quiet.

'For the last four weeks, Stevie's been out sleeping rough.

'There's a library here, where he often escapes the cold,

'but it's not just in the daytime. He slept here last night.'

In that corner, there.

There's always CCTV,

so you're not going to get attacked

or beaten up when you're sleeping.

Cos that has happened to a couple of people.

'Drugs and alcohol are a common cause of homelessness,

'and Stevie is a heroin addict who's spent time in prison for his habit.'

I tried it once or twice.

My mate came down then, when I was living in Morriston,

asked me could I score him a bag?

I said yeah. He shared it with me.

He kept coming down day after day for a fortnight.

And I was hooked, then.

'Recently, he ended up sharing a house with another drug user.'

I couldn't stay there, see, cos I don't want that lifestyle no more.

So I chose to be out on the streets.

It won't be for too long, anyway. A month or two.

I'll get a hostel place.

I just don't want to go on drugs again.

Been there, done that, don't want to do it again.

I'm not going to do it again.

'Also run by the Cyrenians, the St Matthew's Church drop-in centre

'offers a place where the homeless can get cleaned up

'and some decent food.

'They run courses, too. And Stevie's signed up.

'He's doing everything he can to stay away from temptation.'

This will be handy, cos it'll take me up to 4:00.

So it's half a day done, then, innit?

Cos otherwise, I'd be on the streets on my own,

wandering around Swansea,

thinking about getting a drink, won't I?

Basically. Because there'll be nothing else to do.

'For anyone homeless and separated from their family,

'Christmas can prove to be the toughest time of the year.

'The last I'd heard of Tracey

'was that she'd left Swansea three weeks ago.

'Now she's returned.'

Well, I'll sleep here again tonight.

In the wet and the rain and the cold.

That's my joys in life.

In the dark, sleeping in the rain and the cold.

I can smell men's urine and it's disgusting.

'For Tracey, this is an especially difficult time,

'as her mother died exactly one year ago today.'

My head is actually like a spinning top at the moment.

I don't like being in the town when it's very busy

because you can see all the families together and all the kids.

It's not a Christmas for me this year.

'Then she runs into Marie,

'a friend from a church that provides breakfast for the homeless.

'Marie shares the same name as Tracey's mum.'

-So, it's your mum's anniversary today?

-Yeah.

We buried her the 23rd of, er...

-23rd of December.

-Yeah.

So there'll be a big mass for her tonight with all the aunties.

-It's a sad time for you right now, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Sad time for the next couple of days.

-Yeah.

You just have to hold up and be brave.

You're a strong girl. You really are.

You're a tough little cookie. You're strong.

And that's what keeps you going, I think, as well.

When you do get right, you're going to be helping people in the street.

I just feel that for you. I really do.

All right, I'll see you. Ta-ra, sweetheart.

-Take care. Bye!

-Take care.

'In the early evening, Tracey's thoughts are still with her mother.'

I have to go into the church.

I have to show my respects for my mum.

(It's one year dead today. I can't stay long...)

INDISTINCT

(..And do everything I do today. Amen.)

She wouldn't be happy if she found out I was living on the street,

but at least she's in heaven happy, looking down on me.

And I hope everything goes well and the whole family are OK.

I wish them all a happy Christmas. My mum's looking down on us.

'For most of her life, Tracey has struggled with alcoholism.

'And because of it, her family have disowned her.

'She's made one attempt at rehab already, without success.

'Tracey feels the need to make a call to her sister.'

Hello, Lorraine?

I just want to say happy anniversary for Mother and that,

and just to let you know I'm OK and stuff.

I'm just trying to get my life together and stuff, you know.

I'm on my own living on the street.

I'm living on the streets.

I just wish things could change, but they can't.

-SHE SOBS

-I'm destroying my life.

I have nowhere. I have no friends or nothing. I'm living on the street.

Trying to get into hostels all the time.

You know?

Yeah. Happy Christmas. Happy New Year.

Just tell the family I miss them. I love you. Take care.

Bye. I love you too. Bye-bye.

Yeah, it was sad.

She just said, try and get your life together.

'The St Matthew's Church drop-in centre

'has now become part of Paul's regular morning routine.

'Kay is one of their volunteers.'

He's down and out. I give him a hand. Buy him a cup of tea. Haven't I?

-She brought me pears.

-Tasty. Nice, aren't they?

-I've got a problem with them. Can't bite them.

-Oh, yeah.

You've got some teeth, but you haven't got a lot, have you?

They are about three weeks old.

-Lovely.

-So they're nice then when they go soft.

Thank you for these.

We met Monday and he asked me out, but I told him I'm not...

-I'm unattached.

-I was courting her, as you do.

-So...

HE LAUGHS

'He's also arranged to meet another new friend

'under the giant TV in Castle Gardens.'

I was quite amazed when Paul told me that he was homeless.

And then I thought I could help Paul out a little bit.

'Paul's new friend is James from Neath.

'They only met two days ago and now they're best pals.'

Early Christmas presents!

There's the torch.

Oh, thank you so much.

-Mobile phone.

-Have you really?

-Yeah.

Oh, my...!

THEY LAUGH

Oh, look at them! A nice pair of boots.

Thank you so much.

Didn't I tell you good things happen to me, Paul Bell?

'It's a mystery to me how Paul,

'who's been living rough for years, remains so positive.'

All right, fella?

'He's lived on the streets for most of his life.

'When he was 14, his violent father drove him from the family home.

'He ended up in care and eventually ran away.

'For over 30 years, he's had no contact with the rest of his family.

'But now he's thinking about going back home.'

I don't know if I've got nieces, nephews, nothing. I just don't know.

I might have a big family there waiting for me, I don't know.

But I need to, um...

Excuse me. I need to, to, to sort it out.

Even if I get a knock-back, it would break me heart,

but at least I'd know.

And they'd know that I'm still alive, you know.

It's something I want to do,

but...sometimes, I can't be arsed,

because I don't know what sort of heartache I'm going to get.

If I go there and find out my mother's dead...

..that would kill me, that would.

'Each day, he lives with the dilemma of either seeking out his family,

'which could result in rejection,

'or to live the rest of his life

'simply not knowing whether they will take him back.

'At the Cyrenians hostel, Kali is finally moving out.

'With their help, she's found a place of her own.'

Bye-bye, hostel.

This is the best move ever.

-You're now officially...

-A tenant.

-..a tenant.

-No longer homeless. Off the homeless list.

-Yeah.

That's it now. I'm staying off the list.

The most exciting thing about this room by far.

Just cos girls love wardrobes.

-Hello.

-Hiya.

-What a day!

'A local charity have helped her out.'

In there, please. Thank you.

'All this furniture and it's only cost her £80.'

Double bed time.

Lovely. Thank you.

That sounds promising.

'In the hostel, everything was laid on

'and she didn't have to worry about bills.

'Now she's on her own.

'But she can still call on the charities

'who've helped her should she need to.'

I've just got to unpack now and sort everything out.

'With four days until Christmas and the weather closing in,

'the mood amongst those on the streets changes.

'At the Swansea Mission of Mother Teresa's Sisters of Mercy,

'the nuns offer a lifeline.'

# And through all His wondrous childhood

# He would honour and obey. #

'As Christmas draws nearer,

'it's those from broken families who find life even tougher.

'And yet another week sleeping rough

'has taken its toll on Stevie.'

It is a hard life, like, yeah.

Because, um...

you haven't got nowhere to go to, have you?

You haven't got a home, have you?

I miss my relatives.

My father's dead and...

my mother doesn't talk to me.

So Christmas is, um...

..just a drunken blur, basically.

Basically.

'The reality is that Stevie and others

'could end up sleeping rough over Christmas.'

Asking for today...what is your sleeping?

No chance.

'The last time I saw Georgica, he was living in a loft.

'But now, he's back out on the streets again

'and he's been asking friends to take him in over Christmas.'

Sorry, Georgica. Sorry.

Sorry. Next time.

'Georgica, along with the last remaining rough sleepers,

'turn up at the Access Point

'to see if they can get Swansea's one-and-only emergency bed.'

-OK. Come in.

-'Whoever gets it will have a hostel room over Christmas.'

I've been thinking about doing some crime just to go back to jail, like.

Because at least I've got a bed then.

-Yeah.

-You know what I mean?

'As the last of the rough sleepers wait for the chance of a bed,

'the town is packed with last-minute Christmas shoppers

'oblivious to the desperate plight of others.

'Over the last two months, I'd noticed Sarah on the streets.'

My trainers are soaking.

They'll never dry unless I'm indoors for a couple of hours or something.

'Sarah's 23.

'She's another one from a broken family.

'Not that long ago, her life was very different.'

I was a waitress for four years, I think. Three or four years.

I was running the cafe. Opening up every morning,

putting the chairs and everything out.

I lost my flat and my job because my boss was my landlord,

because I fell behind with my rent.

Things have just changed so much. It's...I dunno.

It's hard to get back where I was

because people just won't employ people that don't look presentable.

It's hard to look presentable when you're on the streets.

'Women are usually given priority,

'but Sarah's had the emergency bed for three nights this week.'

I've had it quite a lot, you know, this week,

so I don't mind if I don't really get it

because there's other people that need to be housed as well.

'Then Ian, the Access Point charity worker, calls Georgica over.'

-Tonight, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.

-Two days?

-Five days.

-Wow!

-6:00, yeah?

-Oh-ho!

-OK?

-Thank you very much.

-No problem, mate. Take care.

-Merry Christmas, my friend.

Ho-ho!

-Friday, Saturday, Sunday...

-Monday, Tuesday...

-Monday, Tuesday.

HE HUMS A TUNE

HE LAUGHS

Bye-bye!

Bye-bye! Bye-bye! Merry Christmas!

Thank you very much!

'With the one emergency bed allocated,

'the others will be on the streets.

'But there is a glimmer of hope.

'The Access Point has special funding to pay for

'bed and breakfasts for the homeless over Christmas.

-'But there's a problem.'

-We've tried every B&B in Swansea.

Every B&B in Swansea. We'll keep trying.

-We're going to try and sort something out for you.

-OK.

'So far, none of the B&Bs will have them.

'Thoughts turn to yet another night sleeping out.'

Just...I can cope with the cold, it's just the rain. I hate the rain.

'Then for one more of them, there's good news.

'The hostel has offered a makeshift bed.'

INDISTINCT

-What's happened, Steve?

-I've got the sofa!

-HE LAUGHS

-Happy days!

Happy days. Five days.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.

Oh! Lovely.

Lovely stuff, lovely stuff.

'But Stevie can't understand why the others can't get the same deal.'

Emergency bed for one.

-Couldn't we put these...?

-I've tried.

-'And then there's a breakthrough.'

-We've managed to get you into a B&B.

-OK?

-That will be brilliant.

-This is for five nights.

So your last night will be Tuesday.

-Happy days!

-Thank you.

I'll stay in all day, every day, I will.

Yeah, I'm so happy now.

-See you after Christmas.

-Thank you.

-Ta-ra!

-Ta-ra!

-Ta-ra!

'The lucky three head across town to the only

'bed & breakfast in Swansea that's willing to take them in.'

-It's big.

-Number 20 here.

-OK.

-Who's number 20?

Oh, that's all right, innit? TV and everything.

Big bed.

Oh, it's nice.

-What will you do first, now you've checked in?

-Jump in the shower.

This is lovely, this is. Really nice.

I didn't even think I was going to get the emergency bed

because I've had it often this week.

As far as I knew, I was going to be out on the streets for Christmas.

It's really nice that they've done this for us.

You know, it's really nice.

'It's Christmas Day. 7:30am.

'Paul spent the night back in his favourite spot.'

Most people here are in their little beds.

They get up in the morning, the kiddies are happy.

Everybody's getting Christmas dinner on, everybody's happy.

I'm happy.

I'm a happy dude.

Can I show you my Christmas presents now?

Cos I've been dying to get these out.

'The presents are from his new friend, James.'

A fishing rod.

A new bag. A Welsh shirt.

You know what's funny? I've been here all night hungry

and look what I've just found in this bag.

Sausage rolls.

So that's my Christmas.

There are people that care.

Morning. Happy Christmas.

All right, mate?

It's a funny time of the year, Christmas,

because you start reminiscing.

'During his 30 years on the road,

'Paul's had his share of heartache.'

I wouldn't change a thing, though, you know.

I just keep on shuffling.

I miss my mum.

Sorry.

'After spending an hour or so with Paul,

'I went back home to a Christmas Day with my family.

'But I couldn't stop thinking about the many homeless people

'I'd met during my three months in Swansea.

'Every day, they face the reality of survival,

'often in the cold and on the streets,

'and for whom Christmas Day is just another day.'

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