0:00:02 > 0:00:07This programme contains strong language.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09In the last five years,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12the number of homeless people across the country has doubled.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15The rising cost of housing means eight million of us
0:00:15 > 0:00:19have only enough money saved to cover one month's rent or mortgage.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21I've built so much up in my life -
0:00:21 > 0:00:23my house, my daughter, my girlfriend -
0:00:23 > 0:00:26and, all of a sudden, a run of luck just took it all away from me
0:00:26 > 0:00:27and then I'm on the streets.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30With support services having their budgets cut,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33life's getting tougher for those living on the street.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Any spare change at all?
0:00:36 > 0:00:37In aid of Sport Relief,
0:00:37 > 0:00:40four volunteers have abandoned their fame and fortune...
0:00:40 > 0:00:42SHE GROANS
0:00:42 > 0:00:44..to face the frightening reality of life on the streets.
0:00:44 > 0:00:45DOG BARKS
0:00:45 > 0:00:47INDISTINCT
0:00:48 > 0:00:53They've found out what it's like to go from having everything...
0:00:53 > 0:00:56SIREN WAILS ..to absolutely nothing.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58What a terrible life.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Ex-snooker pro Willie Thorne...
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Homelessness nearly broke me.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03Well, it did break me.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07..presenter Julia Bradbury...
0:01:07 > 0:01:09My family are definitely worried about me.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12They didn't want me to do this at all.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13..comedian Nick Hancock...
0:01:14 > 0:01:18My first instinct is to get through tonight.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Where's the milk of human kindness in that?
0:01:21 > 0:01:23..and TV personality Kim Woodburn.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26I would rather be dead than homeless.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28SIRENS WAIL
0:01:28 > 0:01:31They've tasted what it's like to lose your home, your family,
0:01:31 > 0:01:33your identity...
0:01:33 > 0:01:35- You only know this because you're a scag head!- James...
0:01:35 > 0:01:38..to not know who to trust.
0:01:38 > 0:01:39You're a disgrace,
0:01:39 > 0:01:41cos you're a little horror.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43She's a con artist.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45I can't let anybody do that to me.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48This time, can they discover the truth
0:01:48 > 0:01:52about why so many people in the UK end up homeless?
0:01:52 > 0:01:55This is a man that does not deserve to be living like this.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58And what will it mean for their own lives?
0:01:58 > 0:02:01- Do not complain. - No, I've finished.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04He's trying to escape from the reality of it all.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06You see, we are what we've lived.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19SIREN WAILS
0:02:19 > 0:02:21I was swelling up all over my legs and arms,
0:02:21 > 0:02:23I was getting a headache.
0:02:23 > 0:02:24My body had given up.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26I just couldn't go on any more.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28I just needed a night off.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30The four Sport Relief volunteers
0:02:30 > 0:02:34are only halfway through their time on the streets.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37It is hell on this earth.
0:02:37 > 0:02:38You don't feel like a female.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41You feel dirty, filthy and judged.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45They're meeting up again with John Bird -
0:02:45 > 0:02:49a former rough sleeper and founder of the Big Issue magazine.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Cheers, mate.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53He's running this experience...
0:02:53 > 0:02:54Hello, Nick.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58- ..and is about to put them back on the streets.- Hi.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00But this time, they won't be alone.
0:03:00 > 0:03:01Hello, Willie.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03Arriving for duty, sir.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08How are you doing? Have they slaved you as well?
0:03:08 > 0:03:09- Good morning.- Morning.
0:03:09 > 0:03:14Three days ago, four of you went out onto the streets
0:03:14 > 0:03:16to sleep rough
0:03:16 > 0:03:18and to experience homelessness.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Unfortunately, one of you slept in a hotel last night.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Tell us about that.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Well, I'd just got to the end of my tether, really.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27I was really struggling and I said,
0:03:27 > 0:03:28"Look, I'm happy to continue this
0:03:28 > 0:03:31"but I just need to have a night off."
0:03:31 > 0:03:32I didn't want to quit,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34- but I came very close to quitting.- Yep.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Can I just ask about Kim's experience?
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Because you've, kind of, come up with this idea
0:03:41 > 0:03:43that there are two kinds of homeless people.
0:03:43 > 0:03:44Most definitely.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46I found lazy bums...
0:03:47 > 0:03:48..and I found wonderful people.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50What about the lazy bums? I'm interested.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Yeah, I'm interested because,
0:03:52 > 0:03:53when I was on the street,
0:03:53 > 0:03:54I was one of those bums.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57I came across a girl, 18.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00I said, "You're a lazy little bum
0:04:00 > 0:04:01"and you're a disgrace!"
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Sorry, I don't mince words.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06I'm sorry, I disagree with you
0:04:06 > 0:04:07and I don't mince words either.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09That may be your opinion, and that's fine.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11It doesn't make it a fact,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14- it doesn't make it the end of the argument.- Oh, yes, it does.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16It may be in your head, but, you know...
0:04:16 > 0:04:18then everybody else should be allowed to say what they think.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21- All right.- I haven't got a second in my life to bullshit.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24I'll tell you what I definitely found. She's a bum!
0:04:24 > 0:04:25Kim, I'm going to cut you dead there.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- Well, I'm sorry. I'll say it, but I believe it.- I can tell you,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30I believe that everybody is redeemable.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32- You've got to give everybody... - The same chance.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34..the chance of redemption.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36You don't know what's going on at home.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38- You don't know what her mum is. - Can we...?- Well...
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Can we now crack on here?
0:04:40 > 0:04:43So, now we're moving on to a new stage.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46What we're going to do is
0:04:46 > 0:04:48put you with a homeless buddy.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50I'll describe them to you.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Two of them are addicts,
0:04:52 > 0:04:54one of them has been a drunk,
0:04:54 > 0:04:56one is a 65-year-old lady
0:04:56 > 0:05:00who has been homeless for the last three years
0:05:00 > 0:05:03and the other one has been in and out the nick.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05You're going to get close to these people,
0:05:05 > 0:05:07you're going to be kipping down with them,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10but I'm not giving you social workers,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13I'm giving you people who are real,
0:05:13 > 0:05:14have got real problems,
0:05:14 > 0:05:18so spend a bit of time finding out why they're homeless.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Anyway, good luck and thank you very much.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24ALL: Thank you very much.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29The next three days are going to be a lot more difficult for them
0:05:29 > 0:05:31because they're going to get really close
0:05:31 > 0:05:34to people who are living a disaster
0:05:34 > 0:05:36and a personal tragedy.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39They are very, very troubled people.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48John's sending Nick to live alongside two homeless friends
0:05:48 > 0:05:49in South East London.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51SCREAMING
0:05:51 > 0:05:53It's just such an incredible contrast to...
0:05:53 > 0:05:55both the West End and the city.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03Until a few years ago, the men had good jobs, homes and families.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Now they're living on the streets.
0:06:06 > 0:06:07Hello.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11- Oh, They Think It's All Over. - THEY LAUGH
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- How are you, boys?- Not too bad, yourself?- Good to see you.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- How you doing? What's your name? - Rodney.- Rodney. I'm Nick.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18- Nick. I know who you are, Nick.- Oh.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20I didn't think I knew you. I'm James.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22James, I'm Nick.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24I'm going to be spending a couple of days with you,
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- if that's all right with you. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28But what you don't understand is,
0:06:28 > 0:06:30we've been chucked out of our place where we were staying.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33It was basically a place we lived for four months.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36It was, like, at the top of a car park, but we made it into our house.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38It was somewhere that we called home.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43This is the car park James and Rodney used to squat,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45along with other local homeless people.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47The top window.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49That's the penthouse suite.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54James became homeless nine months ago.
0:06:54 > 0:06:55I lost my nan,
0:06:55 > 0:06:57then I lost my grandad,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59my mum had a double brain haemorrhage,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02I started drinking, I started not thinking about work any more
0:07:02 > 0:07:05and then, just one thing after another
0:07:05 > 0:07:07and I ended up on the street.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09You know, at one point, I had a beautiful girlfriend,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11a beautiful daughter...
0:07:11 > 0:07:12She's such a beautiful girl.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15It ruins me to think that I've made such mistakes with her
0:07:15 > 0:07:18and I hope she can see that she is in my life every day.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Two days ago, they were issued with a dispersal order by the police
0:07:25 > 0:07:27and had to leave within the hour.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29So, where are you stopping now?
0:07:29 > 0:07:31- Well...- We haven't got a clue.- No.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- Right, so, we're going to find somewhere between us, are we?- Yes.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36OK.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48And you can feel the biting cold, can't you?
0:07:48 > 0:07:49Yeah, we want...
0:07:49 > 0:07:53The bus over there has got to turn around and come back.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Kim's spending the next three days in Croydon
0:07:55 > 0:07:57with 65-year-old Patricia,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01whose five bedroom home was destroyed in a house fire.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- SMOKE ALARM BLARES - Yeah, this is what happened.- Yep.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Because it's so small,
0:08:07 > 0:08:08this is what happens all the time
0:08:08 > 0:08:10and I'm not burning anything.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11Since the fire,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14she's been locked in a dispute with her insurance company
0:08:14 > 0:08:15and is now officially homeless,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17living in emergency accommodation.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19A six-by-ten-foot bedsit.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23You still want to retain pride,
0:08:23 > 0:08:25but be very label "homeless"
0:08:25 > 0:08:27takes pride away from you.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29And to keep hold of it
0:08:29 > 0:08:31means you've got to be a fighter.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35A far cry from my five-bedroom house and handmade kitchen.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Come on, we've got to go.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46I haven't used a bus in years.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48- Snobby woman.- I'm not snobby...
0:08:48 > 0:08:50- I'm not snobby.- I'm joking.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Honestly. But I just... You know.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55But isn't it warm? Ooh.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- It's nice.- I might do this more often. Not.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Patricia's just moved into an even smaller room.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04What do I do? I don't know what I do with this. What do I do?
0:09:04 > 0:09:06- We're getting off. - Oh, God. We're getting off?
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Kim's about to see the reality
0:09:08 > 0:09:11for over 100,000 homeless people in the UK.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Officially deemed most vulnerable,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16yet who can't get a council flat due to housing shortages.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Poor bugger.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21This includes those affected by fires and floods,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25people with disabilities and children.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27When you, a lady of 65,
0:09:27 > 0:09:29have to walk into this room,
0:09:29 > 0:09:30what do you think?
0:09:30 > 0:09:32You get a big sinking feeling in your heart and you think,
0:09:32 > 0:09:36"For Christ's sake, what did I do to deserve this?"
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Well, you didn't actually, you were a victim...
0:09:38 > 0:09:39I'm going to get teary now.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41That's all right. That's all right.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43So, you sit in here...
0:09:43 > 0:09:45I wake up in the morning and the first thought is,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48"For Christ's sake, let me get out of here."
0:09:48 > 0:09:51I know, darling, I know.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Sometimes you can...
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Come on.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57- Come on.- I can't bear it.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59- Come on, darling.- I hate crying.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01It will finish one day but it is a hell.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03It's a hell for you, isn't it?
0:10:03 > 0:10:06I really don't want to be here. I know I've got a roof over my head.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09I'm aware of that. But you don't feel like you're living.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11You barely feel like you're existing.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14I concur with that because it's dreadful.
0:10:14 > 0:10:19It's minuscule. It's Victorian is what it is.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22It's Oliver with different clothes.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34- How are you doing?- Hello. - What's your name?- It's Per. - Peter?
0:10:34 > 0:10:38- Per.- Per.- Yes.- Nice to see you. Where are you from? - I'm from Denmark.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41- You're kidding. - But been here for 20 years.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43And how long have you been on the street?
0:10:43 > 0:10:47- Six, seven years now, so it's a long time.- You look immaculate.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Thank you.
0:10:49 > 0:10:50At least.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Willie will be experiencing life with Per, a former company
0:10:54 > 0:10:56director who is now homeless.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Seven years ago when Per couldn't afford to pay
0:11:04 > 0:11:08the rent on his flat he came up with an unusual solution.
0:11:10 > 0:11:11This is my home.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16Sometimes you feel like a second-class citizen.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19You do look at people's houses, people's cars,
0:11:19 > 0:11:21and thinking, "Why is that not me?"
0:11:21 > 0:11:23You feel like you are scum.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30Some of my business ventures went sadly wrong. I lost a lot of money.
0:11:30 > 0:11:36My mother died of cancer. I lost a child in the hospital, dead born.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38A lot of trauma.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42It's a bit like a domino effect.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45One thing go wrong, then it goes second thing wrong,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47and you end up in a situation like this.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56Per's traumatic life events have also resulted in a battle with addiction.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00I used to be alcoholic but I don't drink any more. I stopped.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03- How long ago was that? - A couple of months ago.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07I've been a gambler myself and it's ruined my life over the years.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10It cost me my first marriage. I am actually bankrupt at the moment.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13- I went bankrupt six, seven weeks ago.- Yeah.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17It's amazing how you've got into just sleeping rough.
0:12:17 > 0:12:18I never thought that myself.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21I used to have Mercedes and five bedroom house
0:12:21 > 0:12:25- and everything over here...- Really? - ..but things fall apart.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Julia is in west London and about to walk in the shoes of Jatinder.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45Hey, how are you doing? I'm Julia. Hi, how are you.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47- Nice to meet you.- Yeah, nice to meet you as well.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Jatinder once had a promising career working for the Ministry Of Defence.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52He is now homeless.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56- I've been in prison and...- What were you in prison for? Can I ask?
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- I'd rather not say.- I'm going to be spending a couple of days with you.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01I'd feel more comfortable if I knew.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05- I was up for possession with intent to supply.- OK.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07What was the drug if you don't mind me asking?
0:13:07 > 0:13:10I'd rather not talk about it. That's not what we're here to talk about.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13No, no, no, but I'm interested. OK. So, from my point of view, OK,
0:13:13 > 0:13:15back again to, I'm going to spend time you. Any other time inside?
0:13:15 > 0:13:20- Anything that if you were me you'd want to know?- No. You don't need to be concerned about anything.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23- You're all right.- OK. All right.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Jatinder's life unravelled after a relationship
0:13:27 > 0:13:30broke down and he slipped into drug addiction and crime.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35He now sleeps alone in the stairwell of this tower block.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43Sometimes I can just stand here and look out into the distance and think
0:13:43 > 0:13:47to myself of certain things that I need to do and where my life's going.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51I've done a few wrongs and I had to pay the price for that
0:13:51 > 0:13:54but there's so much potential out there where... Meaning
0:13:54 > 0:13:58I could go out there and make something of my life.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00And instead I'm sleeping on a stairwell.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03My life should be better than this.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Jatinder has served 14 months in Wormwood Scrubs prison.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Getting back to work with a criminal record
0:14:14 > 0:14:16and no fixed address is a challenge.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21I've had people come up to me and say, "Go get yourself a job.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23"Why are you sat there on the street?"
0:14:23 > 0:14:26But it's difficult. Let's just say if I did get a job.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30Am I going to run and use McDonald's toilets every day to sort myself out?
0:14:30 > 0:14:31I know, I know.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41- Have you ever took drugs? - I've had experience of drugs.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44I've got friends who've got in trouble with drugs.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47In South-east London Nick's beginning to realise that homelessness
0:14:47 > 0:14:50isn't James and Rodney's only problem.
0:14:50 > 0:14:51I'll leave you guys to it.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- Off you go. I'll see you a bit later.- I'll be two seconds. - All right.- All right.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57- All right, I'll be back in a minute. - All right.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01- He's going to get sick in a minute. - Is he?
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- Is he getting on a down, down? - He's a heroin addict.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Now he's about to puke and shit himself.
0:15:10 > 0:15:15Erm... Let's leave him to do what he has to do.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18- He doesn't get buzzing. It doesn't get nothing of it... - It just gets him through.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20..but he stops feeling sick.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24And what you used to do to make you feel special now you have to do to make you feel normal.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27And that happens with a lot of addictions.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33- This is a fire escape. - Come on, mate.- It's a fire escape.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38- Right, so is it so important that you have to push us away?- Yes.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42It's a fire escape. I could call the fire brigade here and ask them...
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- Call- them, then. This is a fire escape.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47I don't give a fuck about your fire escape, mate.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49Well, then fuck off if you don't give a fuck about our fire escape.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53- You fuck off then.- Go away. Go and find a home somewhere.
0:15:53 > 0:15:58- Come on.- Horrible old bastard. - Leave him to it.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12- Excuse me. Celebrity coming through. - Celebrity! High five!
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Most nights James and Rodney head to the High Street on a mission
0:16:20 > 0:16:22to beg for money.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27- Can you spare any change for the homeless?- Maybe?- Only a couple of quid.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29Don't worry, darling. You have a good day.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32- The worst one for me is being ignored.- Yeah, yeah.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34- Being ignored. It makes you feel like that.- Yeah, yeah.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37You already spend a lot of the time looking up
0:16:37 > 0:16:40- and let alone being ignored as well.- Yeah. Yeah.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42That's what I was saying the other day,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45we really do feel like we're bottom of the ladder.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47All right, can I ask everyone,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50when I ask for money in the street, do you think that I'm a beggar,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53just had nothing in my life, or do you realise that I've had a
0:16:53 > 0:16:56past and that I'm asking for help?
0:16:56 > 0:17:01- Everybody's got a past.- Is there anyone that understands that I haven't always lived this way?
0:17:03 > 0:17:06And I've got no money. You haven't got any money you could give me to get a drink?
0:17:06 > 0:17:10I literally haven't got a penny. I'm staying on the streets for a week with my mates here.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- Come on, we'll buy you some fish and chips, mate. Are you hungry?- Yeah... - We need money.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15This is the rule. Never give money.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18- Is that- what you think? If you've got a bad habit, I'm against that.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20I don't want you... I don't want to give you money
0:17:20 > 0:17:21and you go and buy alcohol.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23I used to have 20 people working for me.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25I turned over about £390,000 in one year.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27And it's like everyone will look at me now
0:17:27 > 0:17:31and just think that I'm nothing and I've never done nothing.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33But I've done something and things went wrong.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36But people have to do what they want to do.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38I've got to say that I'll come and have some fish
0:17:38 > 0:17:41- and chips with you later if you're offering.- No worries. No worries. - Thank you.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44- No worries we'll get you something to eat.- Thank you very much.- Take care.
0:17:46 > 0:17:51- This gentleman says he'll pay for my order.- Yes.- Is that OK?- Yes.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55There's a raw honesty from the reactions you get here from other people.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00There's not so much, "This is what I ought to be saying and this is what I ought to be doing."
0:18:00 > 0:18:02'And there's something refreshing in that.'
0:18:02 > 0:18:05- Thank you very much. - Thank you very much.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08- No fish bites but fish and chips. Salt and vinegar?- Yes.- Done.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Just one tea and one coffee. Thank you very much.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23If I said I'd take you out for a meal
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- and it could be anything you wanted what would it be?- Chinese.- Chinese.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28- You like Chinese?- Yeah. Sweet and sour chicken balls...
0:18:28 > 0:18:31- Yeah. Egg fried rice or normal rice?- Oh, my God.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37- You sure you don't want any salad on your...?- I haven't got this fat eating salad.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47For seven years Per has survived in the woods.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50But three months ago his alcoholism became
0:18:50 > 0:18:53so debilitating he was hospitalised.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Going through cold turkey.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59It all starts with pure pain in your whole body.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03And this time I was throwing blood out of my mouth...
0:19:03 > 0:19:08And in the moment it came out of my mouth, it came here too.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12- So I have to when I was puking up lots out of my mouth...- Also...
0:19:12 > 0:19:15..I had to pull down my trousers and then they came at the same time.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19- That's the most awful thing.- You must have lost an awful lot of blood.- Yes.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22- Did the doctors say if you carry on drinking you're going to kill yourself?- Yes.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24- Or did they say you're lucky this time?- Yes.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Yes, you will do. You will kill yourself.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Obviously.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Having met 20 or 30 people during this last three days
0:19:33 > 0:19:38this gentleman I'm more in awe of. He was a very wealthy man.
0:19:38 > 0:19:43He's fell on hard times. And went to drink because of it.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46And now he's seen the light at the end of the tunnel
0:19:46 > 0:19:50and hopefully he doesn't go back down that route.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01Tonight all four volunteers will bed down with their buddies
0:20:01 > 0:20:06and experience the dangers thousands of homeless people face every night.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11We must be getting near somewhere to lie down cos my trousers are falling down again.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15Finding security and shelter away from the elements isn't easy.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Listen, right.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20They chuck us out of here all the time, so I know they're going to say,
0:20:20 > 0:20:24"We're going to phone the police. "We're going to chuck you out." We'll see.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28James and Rodney are planning to squat in a stairwell.
0:20:28 > 0:20:29(Follow me.)
0:20:34 > 0:20:37INDISTINCT
0:20:37 > 0:20:39(That was a strong smell.)
0:20:39 > 0:20:41- Yeah, I might have to... - Open that door.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45(That's a very strong smell.)
0:20:51 > 0:20:55HE RETCHES
0:20:59 > 0:21:02(That smell in there is incredible.)
0:21:02 > 0:21:04HE COUGHS
0:21:04 > 0:21:08(I'll be fine. Don't worry. Don't worry about me.)
0:21:09 > 0:21:11(I'll be fine.)
0:21:11 > 0:21:13I think it's pretty intimidating.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16I don't know where he's stayed the last few days
0:21:16 > 0:21:18but I don't think he likes it at all.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23It's like, you know... Sometimes you don't get a choice where you stay.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30'And as nice as he is and as much as he wants to sit on the street'
0:21:30 > 0:21:34and ask for money I don't think he understands just how tough this is.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44- You're going to go first?- Yeah, well, unless you want to try and work your magic.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46No, I think you're good with it.
0:21:46 > 0:21:47HE LAUGHS
0:21:47 > 0:21:52In west London Jatinder and Julia are also attempting to get into a private block.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56What's going on? Ain't Mikey come down yet?
0:21:59 > 0:22:01All right. No biggie, no biggie.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06The guy is having problems getting in himself
0:22:06 > 0:22:08- so I'm not going to stand behind him...- No.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10..when he's trying to get into his own place
0:22:10 > 0:22:12and he's looking at me like, "Are you all right?"
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Yeah.
0:22:15 > 0:22:16That guy's watching us now.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22- So what's the plan? - I just have to hightail
0:22:22 > 0:22:25- someone on their way in...- Yeah. - ..pretend that I'm on my mobile phone
0:22:25 > 0:22:27and I'm talking to someone in the block.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32'One of the toughest parts of sleeping rough is the constant
0:22:32 > 0:22:34'exposure to the outdoor elements.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38'So I think to be able to sleep in a sheltered environment would
0:22:38 > 0:22:39'make a real difference.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42'But obviously it's hard to get into somewhere like this.'
0:22:42 > 0:22:45What floor? What's your door number?
0:22:45 > 0:22:50Oh, look. Someone's letting me in any way so listen, so what floor shall I get off on?
0:22:50 > 0:22:52He's in. Shit.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55HE WHISTLES
0:22:55 > 0:22:56OK.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08- Home sweet home. - Home sweet home.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10HE LAUGHS
0:23:11 > 0:23:14So this is how naive I am.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16The reason the lights are blue apparently is
0:23:16 > 0:23:22if you're a heroin addict and you look for your veins you can't
0:23:22 > 0:23:24see it which means people can't shoot up.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27You live and learn.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36Per also has an extreme solution to securing shelter, something
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Willie will live and breathe for the next two nights.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43- If my mum could see me now walking the streets...- She wouldn't believe it.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45- It's two o'clock in the morning. - Yeah.
0:23:45 > 0:23:46Think I was on drugs.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48PER LAUGHS
0:23:48 > 0:23:52They're heading to Per's secret camp in the woods.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58From this stage I'm always quite awake to see if anyone is following me.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02- Just as a precaution really. - Of course.- So...
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Per's been physically attacked and robbed in these woods so
0:24:10 > 0:24:14he's got strict rules about getting in and out without being spotted.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17- Don't talk too much because I won't know if anyone is around.- Sure.
0:24:19 > 0:24:25- Take care of this one, it's very slippery.- Oops! Hang on. Agh!
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Oh, God. Fuck. Where are we going now?
0:24:28 > 0:24:32- This way.- Let me take that.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Just about there. Do you see there?
0:24:39 > 0:24:43- So this is where you'd sleep every night?- Yes.- Goodness me.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48As a routine I'll take my torch check to see
0:24:48 > 0:24:50- if any rats or mouse has been through.- OK.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Hm.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58I'm not sure I'll be here tomorrow night to be honest.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00I will do it for one night.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04- I thought I'd lost money. - You're all right. I've got it.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07- No, no, no.- Watch the steps. - Give me that.- Hold on that rail.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11Patricia slept rough for many months before she got her bedsit and
0:25:11 > 0:25:14has her own methods of protecting herself against the British weather.
0:25:14 > 0:25:19- Show me...- We're going under the subway.- Aren't we lucky(?)
0:25:19 > 0:25:21BOTH: # Underneath the arches... #
0:25:21 > 0:25:23What's the words?
0:25:23 > 0:25:25# I dream a dream of you. #
0:25:25 > 0:25:28- Something like that. - Bud Flanagan and Allen?- Yeah.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31- Go on, what's the rest of the words? - I don't know. I'm not that old.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33You ain't no spring chicken, girl.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Patricia's temporary accommodation doesn't allow overnight visitors.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40That's where I was...
0:25:40 > 0:25:44So she's forced to leave Kim in the safest sleeping spot she knows.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49- You could do with a little transistor.- No, I can't bear noise.
0:25:49 > 0:25:54- Oh.- I'm a peaceful soul.- It is a good job I'm quiet and refined, yeah?
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Let's not push your luck! I'll see you tomorrow.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59- Thanks ever so much.- You're welcome.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01- You have a good night's sleep, darling.- You too, love.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05- If you have any problems, shout. - Thanks.- All right.- Sleep well, babe. - You too.- Thank you.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09This is just such a hard way to live.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12And I just can't help feeling in my heart that this is a man
0:26:12 > 0:26:15that does not deserve to be living like this.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Oh, God.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24There we go.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32OK?
0:26:33 > 0:26:38I just do what I have to do to survive in that situation I'm in.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Yeah.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43That's basically it.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- Goodnight, sleep well. - See you in the morning.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01Hey, Willie? Willie? Hello?
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Per has woken to find that Willie has gone missing.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Willie? Where are you?
0:27:11 > 0:27:12Nowhere to be seen.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Don't know where he is.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20Ten minutes ago Willie just disappeared out of the tent
0:27:20 > 0:27:21and I don't know where he is.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25I've been looking through the bush to make sure he has not fallen over or anything like that.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Just crossing our fingers there's nothing happened to him.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Hello. I can't see you. Willie?
0:27:37 > 0:27:38DOG BARKS
0:27:39 > 0:27:40I don't give a fuck...
0:27:40 > 0:27:42INDISTINCT
0:27:42 > 0:27:44You're sleeping on my fucking stairs.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47I've paid good money for this. For this. What, this shit?
0:27:47 > 0:27:49You're having a laugh, aren't you?
0:27:49 > 0:27:52- You're jacking up on my fucking stairs.- I'm not jacking...
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Now get your fucking shit. Get out.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Come on, out. Sorry, Nick.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06My fucking kids have to walk down these stairs.
0:28:06 > 0:28:07First time I've been here.
0:28:07 > 0:28:12- First time, yeah? And the last, yeah?- Yeah.- And tell your mates, yeah?
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Whoever comes back next time it will be their last as well.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20You wouldn't like it if your kids was walking down the stairs watching all this shit.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23I can understand how you'd be emotional about that. I've got kids.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27- We've all got kids as it happens. - Yeah.
0:28:27 > 0:28:31But... And you're not cross personally with these guys...
0:28:31 > 0:28:35- No, I'm not. It ain't them at all. - Exactly.- The problem is the system.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37- The system is the problem.- Exactly.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40- Go on. On your way.- All right. Cheers.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47I thought we got quite a good night out of it to tell you
0:28:47 > 0:28:50the honest truth. What time is it? He's on his way to work though, is he?
0:28:50 > 0:28:54- Is that what's happened?- I don't know. I've never seen him before. - No.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56I can understand why he's pissed off.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Oh, yeah, I can understand, but it's a bloody difficult one, isn't it?
0:29:03 > 0:29:04Hm.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07- So...- I'm fine, man. Have a sit down. I just needed...
0:29:07 > 0:29:11Per's found Willie at a nearby bus stop.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14Come and sit down. I just needed some air. I felt little bit confined.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17- I've never slept in a tent before. - It is confined.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20Exactly. It was just a little bit claustrophobic.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23- Just give me that little clue what you're going to do.- Yeah.- So I'm not concerned.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26- OK. Listen...- That's the only responsibility I'll give you.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28I didn't... I'm very, very sorry
0:29:28 > 0:29:31if I've upset anybody but it wasn't the fact that
0:29:31 > 0:29:34I was leaving it's just the fact that I can't do a tent.
0:29:34 > 0:29:35You know. That was all.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39'I like him very much.'
0:29:39 > 0:29:41But I feel he is like a big baby.
0:29:41 > 0:29:47You have to look after him 24 hours a day. And you can't leave him alone.
0:29:50 > 0:29:51192. I wonder where that goes.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53HE CHUCKLES
0:29:53 > 0:29:57He is very vulnerable. He has a big weakness somehow.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09HE SIGHS
0:30:09 > 0:30:11SHE SIGHS
0:30:11 > 0:30:13SHE GROANS
0:30:13 > 0:30:15Almost human.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29James was born and brought up in southeast London
0:30:29 > 0:30:32and still has close family ties here.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34- And this is where his house was? - Yeah.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36- I just wondered... - That's why he's walking ahead.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39And that's exactly what I thought, I thought...
0:30:39 > 0:30:41It was a bad place to stop.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44- Keen to get through. - Keen to get through, yeah, yeah.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46Well, let's do that, then.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54You know, a lot of emotional distress that I've got,
0:30:54 > 0:30:57mainly, is about me messing up with my daughter.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00I haven't been a proper dad to her since she was about seven or eight.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03- Yeah.- And you know, I can never make that up,
0:31:03 > 0:31:07- she's 15 now.- Yeah. - Can never make it up, so...
0:31:07 > 0:31:10You know, my dad was an alcoholic and I never wanted to be like him.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12You know, he's a terrible dad
0:31:12 > 0:31:14and I've turned into a bad dad to my daughter
0:31:14 > 0:31:18and that destroys me. As soon as I start thinking about it I just
0:31:18 > 0:31:21- instantly pick up a drink and just cut it out, you know.- Yeah.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26'I think he's feeling bereft.'
0:31:27 > 0:31:31If it was me - if there would be one, real strong sense of failure
0:31:31 > 0:31:34I'd feel, it would be the failure to see through my
0:31:34 > 0:31:39commitment as a parent. Maybe his emotion, his anger
0:31:39 > 0:31:43or his defiance are all symptoms of, you know, that separation.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55- Now, I need to use the loo. There? - If you'd like,
0:31:55 > 0:31:58we're going to go in the church and use the facilities.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01Jatinder relies on this homeless charity for food, showers
0:32:01 > 0:32:04and a break from the cold.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07- Morning, I'm Julia.- Hi. - Hi, I'm with J.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10- Hi, Amanda. - He's showing me around today.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12- OK, so we'll just let you guys get on with it.- Yeah.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16It was set up by a volunteer, Amanda Cadogan, in a church,
0:32:16 > 0:32:18to serve her local homeless community.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21What we offer is a safe environment for the community.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24And we see these guys all the time, but they have to do their part.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26And take some responsibility for themselves,
0:32:26 > 0:32:29because if people don't want the help...
0:32:29 > 0:32:31- A lot of them don't.- No. And you'd actually be surprised how many
0:32:31 > 0:32:34people are quite comfortable living... It's a way of life,
0:32:34 > 0:32:38it's familiar. It can take many years to address someone
0:32:38 > 0:32:42and to bring someone into... What we would call a healthy community.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44You know, they have been traumatised, they have been
0:32:44 > 0:32:47desensitised and unless members of the community are willing
0:32:47 > 0:32:51to get in there, it's just going to be a cycle that keeps going.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55- What's your surname?- Budwal. B-U-D-W-A-L.
0:32:56 > 0:33:00What do you make of J? Do you think he can help himself?
0:33:00 > 0:33:03I think he's in a cycle that's taken him some time to get there
0:33:03 > 0:33:06and I think they also need lots of patience and time to get
0:33:06 > 0:33:09out of it, I don't think there's a quick fix with homelessness.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12You have to keep giving chances, if it takes five years,
0:33:12 > 0:33:15ten years, 20 years for them to decide to break the cycle,
0:33:15 > 0:33:18- you have to just be there. - There we go.- Thank you very much.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20- I wish you all the best.- Yeah, you too, have a merry Christmas.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23Make the right choices now, mate, and see you soon, yeah.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26- I'll do my best.- All right, take care.- Thank you, I'll see you later.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28- Bye.- See you, Amanda, thank you, bye-bye.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33I'm disheartened and saddened because
0:33:33 > 0:33:37I have realised that there is no easy fix
0:33:37 > 0:33:41and you can be as kind and as well-meaning as you want...
0:33:41 > 0:33:46And giving somebody a hot drink or money undoubtedly is
0:33:46 > 0:33:48a caring and compassionate thing to do
0:33:48 > 0:33:51but that's not going to fix the issue of homelessness.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55And I'm... My mind is just...
0:33:56 > 0:34:03..curdling with this massive problem and what, what we can do about it.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17THEY CHATTER
0:34:17 > 0:34:20In southeast London, James, Rodney and Nick again have got
0:34:20 > 0:34:22nowhere to sleep.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24Oi!
0:34:24 > 0:34:27A situation one local resident has little sympathy for.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33You're only fucking homeless cos you're a scag head...
0:34:33 > 0:34:36You know what, you fucking...
0:34:36 > 0:34:41And you have the cheek to say, "I don't get no help, I'm homeless."
0:34:41 > 0:34:45I was street homeless for ten years, 20 years.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49You're scagging, course you're going to be homeless, you mug.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53- Boys...- Get a life, get a life.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55I've got a life...
0:34:55 > 0:34:58- James, he's going, let him go. - Let him go.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00MAN CONTINUES SHOUTING
0:35:00 > 0:35:04- Next time you see your dick, tell me.- Someone you know, James?
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Erm...
0:35:07 > 0:35:10We're just going to wander across the road.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13Like you see, right, everyone in Woolwich will tell ya
0:35:13 > 0:35:16that I'm a street person. I stand my ground. If I lose, I lose,
0:35:16 > 0:35:19- if I win, I win. - You're not going to be bowed.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21No, I'm not going to. No, never... Never.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25- I've fought my ground all my life. - All right, mate.- Sorry...
0:35:25 > 0:35:27No, no, no, don't be sorry.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38In Croydon, Patricia is about to spend another night
0:35:38 > 0:35:40in her tiny bedsit.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44- I want my house back.- Now, listen to me. Now, it's my turn now...
0:35:44 > 0:35:46PATRICIA CHUCKLES
0:35:46 > 0:35:49- You haven't got the house, my love.- I know.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52- But you've got to go on, don't let people grind you down.- Yeah, but...
0:35:52 > 0:35:55- Oh, stop... - No, I realise what you're saying
0:35:55 > 0:35:57but if somebody doesn't... These loss adjusters are
0:35:57 > 0:36:00- companies that are set up... - They haven't got a conscience.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04But they're set up to profit at vulnerable people's expense.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07- Yes...- So, bugger 'em, I'm not going to let them.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10- But you are.- I don't care if I'm the only one in the world who has
0:36:10 > 0:36:15to do it, I will do it. I cannot, I will do or die.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19'She's totally stubborn.'
0:36:19 > 0:36:22I said, "But you're onto a hiding to nothing, my love."
0:36:23 > 0:36:27So, we've got two stubborn, independent women together?
0:36:27 > 0:36:28But... Look here...
0:36:29 > 0:36:32Well, I don't think you have, I don't think I am like...
0:36:32 > 0:36:35And I think you've got a bloody cheek.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46I bet you're going to get in tomorrow, Nick,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49and just cuddle your family and say, "Thank fuck I'm home."
0:36:49 > 0:36:52- Nah.- "Thank fuck it's over, it is now!"
0:36:52 > 0:36:53ALL CHEER
0:36:55 > 0:36:59Still stuck for somewhere to bed down, James and Rodney return to the
0:36:59 > 0:37:03car park that was home before they were kicked out.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06- This was our bedroom. - And this was my bed up here.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09My bed used to be here, and James's was here.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15We had the crates stacked up here with all of our food and
0:37:15 > 0:37:19- everything else...- And, and a view. - Look at this as a penthouse view,
0:37:19 > 0:37:21look at this, eh?
0:37:21 > 0:37:24Sometimes when you've got a lot on your mind and you come out here,
0:37:24 > 0:37:27- it's... - Yeah.- It's not that bad, is it?
0:37:27 > 0:37:31You get a really nice view over this side, you can see The Shard.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37In our situation, this is as close as you can get to normality,
0:37:37 > 0:37:40but, like, they just ripped it all away from us in an hour,
0:37:40 > 0:37:43they just took it all away, you know.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46That's upsetting but it really makes you realise
0:37:46 > 0:37:48you don't miss what you ain't got until it's gone.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52It really is true. I used to have a house and I miss that
0:37:52 > 0:37:55and, you know, now I'm missing the top of a car park.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58I never thought I'd miss this, but I do, I do.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05- John Bird's come to visit. - John, this is Rodney.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07Hello, Rodney, nice to meet you.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10- Nice to meet you.- This is John and this is James.- Hello, James...
0:38:10 > 0:38:13He's learned that James has been offered accommodation by the council
0:38:13 > 0:38:16but hasn't yet taken it up.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19Did you find that when you'd done a certain period of homelessness
0:38:19 > 0:38:21- that it was almost harder to get off the street?- Oh, yeah.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24Because you get so use to it, it is part of your life.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27And to put yourself back in a box...
0:38:27 > 0:38:30Like, what I call a flat or a house or a room, it's like...
0:38:30 > 0:38:32Did you find that?
0:38:32 > 0:38:34I found it very difficult. In fact, I found it difficult
0:38:34 > 0:38:37- to sleep indoors.- Yeah. - I really did.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40- Do you see a way off the streets? - Do you want to know the truth?- Yeah.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43Just to get a job where I go to work, I come home,
0:38:43 > 0:38:47I respect myself and, more than anything, my daughter respects me,
0:38:47 > 0:38:50that's the most important thing in my life at the moment
0:38:50 > 0:38:52but when you're suffering with depression -
0:38:52 > 0:38:54it's hard to have that drive to want to do that.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57Give me that drive, please give me that drive.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00I would think that the first thing you need to do
0:39:00 > 0:39:02is to get some doctor behind you...
0:39:04 > 0:39:07Because you can't sort out depression on the streets,
0:39:07 > 0:39:09- it's just impossible.- No. - It's absolutely impossible.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Do you know what? I genuinely, for the sake of me becoming a
0:39:12 > 0:39:15better dad to my daughter, I just want to be someone that she
0:39:15 > 0:39:18can look up to and say, "That's my dad." And not,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21- "That's not my dad." - But you can get there, can't you?
0:39:21 > 0:39:22Absolutely.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25He comes across like a half-decent geezer.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28He's been there, he's done it - why can't we?
0:39:28 > 0:39:31I've accepted it too long, I don't want to do it any more,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34I'm fed up with it. And yeah, I do, you know,
0:39:34 > 0:39:37- fuck this.- Cheers, bye-bye.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40So you meet people like James and they tell you
0:39:40 > 0:39:43that the reason they're homeless is because of a breakdown
0:39:43 > 0:39:47in a relationship or a loss of job or something like that
0:39:47 > 0:39:49and that may well be true.
0:39:49 > 0:39:54But so many people I meet - have a problem which is deeper than that
0:39:54 > 0:39:58and that's often to do with what's happened in their childhood.
0:39:58 > 0:40:03And until we can find a way of dismantling the reasons
0:40:03 > 0:40:06why people become homeless, we really are
0:40:06 > 0:40:10limiting our ability as a society to respond to the
0:40:10 > 0:40:13problems of people going off the rails
0:40:13 > 0:40:16and becoming homeless and falling into our streets.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25- Can't even go in together, look. - Get in, get in, get in!
0:40:25 > 0:40:27PATRICIA CHUCKLES
0:40:27 > 0:40:29Christ...
0:40:29 > 0:40:32In Croydon, Kim's trying to understand Patricia's
0:40:32 > 0:40:35background and why life has become so difficult.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40My mum died about six years ago, maybe, but she died on my birthday
0:40:40 > 0:40:42and I swear blind she did that on purpose!
0:40:42 > 0:40:46- You hadn't spoken to your mum?- I hadn't spoken to my mum since 1992.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50- Was she a good mum?- No, she used to hit me with frying pans
0:40:50 > 0:40:53and knock me down the stairs. You're joking, good mum?
0:40:53 > 0:40:57It was a fault in your mother, she did things that weren't too good,
0:40:57 > 0:41:01a fault. But you're talking years and years and years ago, aren't you?
0:41:01 > 0:41:02Yeah, I know, but I don't let go...
0:41:02 > 0:41:04SHE CHUCKLES
0:41:04 > 0:41:06- Yeah, but this is what's wrong, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09- Can't you put it in the grave and behave?- Put her in the grave...
0:41:09 > 0:41:12You're raking up things that have hurt you -
0:41:12 > 0:41:17you've got to leave it behind, you're 60-bloody-5!
0:41:17 > 0:41:19You're like Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Concentrate on your life, stop living in the past.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27Do you know? You're a hell of a nice lady,
0:41:27 > 0:41:29you are worth so much more, my love.
0:41:30 > 0:41:34'I loathed my mother. She beat the crap out of me.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38'Because she loved my father. And he left her.'
0:41:38 > 0:41:42And she punished me every day of my life.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45"I look at you, I see your father, you fucking little cow!"
0:41:47 > 0:41:49Here we go.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52- I will see you in the morning. - You will.- Bye!- Bye.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57And when she died, although I loathed her, it broke me up.
0:41:57 > 0:41:58Cos I thought...
0:42:07 > 0:42:09SHE SNIFFLES
0:42:10 > 0:42:12SHE SOBS
0:42:20 > 0:42:22You know, I just thought...
0:42:23 > 0:42:27"You're a little child being hurt all the time..."
0:42:27 > 0:42:30And you never get over it.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33It's... In all your adult years... I regret...
0:42:33 > 0:42:37The most thing I regret in my life...is never having had a
0:42:37 > 0:42:41mum and dad that loved me. Because without that backbone
0:42:41 > 0:42:42it's a damn struggle.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49So, you see, we are what we've lived.
0:42:50 > 0:42:51Yes, we are, we really are.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55Yeah, we are. Yeah, that's right.
0:43:09 > 0:43:10We'll go and sit here, bud.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13HE SIGHS
0:43:13 > 0:43:17Willie and Per have spent eight hours walking the streets.
0:43:17 > 0:43:21Willie's struggling as he faces his final night sleeping rough.
0:43:21 > 0:43:24My wife, Jill's stood by me through...
0:43:24 > 0:43:26I keep saying she's stood by me through thin and thin,
0:43:26 > 0:43:29cos there hasn't been much thick in the last few years.
0:43:29 > 0:43:30THEY CHUCKLE
0:43:30 > 0:43:32She's a lovely lady, I'm a very, very lucky man.
0:43:32 > 0:43:33And she's my rock, she's my rock.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36So, do you think your wife actually stopped you gambling?
0:43:36 > 0:43:38Yeah, I think so.
0:43:38 > 0:43:41Because mentally I was very weak. I got so depressed
0:43:41 > 0:43:43- I wanted to commit suicide.- Oh... - I was really as low
0:43:43 > 0:43:48as you could possibly be low. It's definitely destroyed my life
0:43:48 > 0:43:51- as has drink destroyed yours. - Yeah.- OK, your drinking was
0:43:51 > 0:43:54- brought on by misfortune in business...- Yes.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57- Where my misfortune in life has been brought on by myself.- Yeah.
0:43:57 > 0:44:00- Through gambling.- Yeah.- You know, I've got no excuse
0:44:00 > 0:44:02for what's happened to me. I was always on the phone,
0:44:02 > 0:44:05because I didn't want people to know that I was having the
0:44:05 > 0:44:07- amount of money I was having on horses.- There's no end, is there?
0:44:07 > 0:44:09When you have credit, you end up saying,
0:44:09 > 0:44:11"I'll have another £500-worth of chips, please.
0:44:11 > 0:44:13- "I'll have another £500-worth of chips."- Yeah.
0:44:13 > 0:44:16And, "I've got to get that back because my wife won't know
0:44:16 > 0:44:18- "I've done that." And that's how gambling is.- Yeah.
0:44:18 > 0:44:21- You know...- You can relate it to alcohol as well...- Absolutely.
0:44:21 > 0:44:23A little bit... Yeah.
0:44:23 > 0:44:25Same exchange.
0:44:25 > 0:44:26- HE CHUCKLES - It's amazing.
0:44:35 > 0:44:40It's the final night on the streets of London for our four volunteers.
0:44:40 > 0:44:41Oof!
0:44:45 > 0:44:47You're going to be a path tomorrow.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52The answer isn't just housing, it isn't just money,
0:44:52 > 0:44:54it isn't just counselling.
0:44:55 > 0:44:58People need support and they need...
0:44:58 > 0:45:00They need respect.
0:45:02 > 0:45:03Night, all.
0:45:09 > 0:45:11While the others sleep...
0:45:11 > 0:45:13SIRENS WAIL
0:45:13 > 0:45:16..Willie's final night has run into trouble.
0:45:16 > 0:45:18Hello, madam, all right?
0:45:18 > 0:45:22I am. My foot has all swollen up and I just want to make sure it's OK...
0:45:22 > 0:45:25He's about to have an X-ray on a swollen ankle.
0:45:25 > 0:45:29Homelessness has been the hardest thing I think
0:45:29 > 0:45:32I could ever imagine to do and it nearly broke me.
0:45:32 > 0:45:36Well, it did break me. It's made me realise that these
0:45:36 > 0:45:39homeless people... Erm, you know, I...
0:45:39 > 0:45:43Goodness me, I find it amazing how they survive.
0:45:45 > 0:45:48- Oh...- Is it sore?- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:45:48 > 0:45:51Says there's nothing broken, nothing that...
0:45:51 > 0:45:54You know, a good night's rest won't help.
0:45:54 > 0:45:56HE SIGHS
0:45:56 > 0:45:58I don't know. I didn't want to quit, I wanted to see it out
0:45:58 > 0:46:00and, erm... You know, that's the thing.
0:46:04 > 0:46:06Wow.
0:46:06 > 0:46:07It's very nice.
0:46:07 > 0:46:10Willie is going to stay in a hotel for the second time
0:46:10 > 0:46:14during this experience and has insisted Per gets a
0:46:14 > 0:46:19- bed for the night, too. - Very smart.- Entre le maison.
0:46:19 > 0:46:24- After you, my friend.- Oh, wow.- First hotel room for ten years, huh?- Oh.
0:46:25 > 0:46:28- WILLIE LAUGHS - Oh, we've got loads of beds.
0:46:29 > 0:46:32- Oh, wow.- Soft enough for you?
0:46:32 > 0:46:33WILLIE LAUGHS
0:46:33 > 0:46:37- Very nice.- I feel like a wimp - for the second time this week
0:46:37 > 0:46:40I've ended up in a hotel room. The first time was just literally -
0:46:40 > 0:46:44I couldn't cope with the situation. But then the next morning
0:46:44 > 0:46:46I've decided to brush myself down and go for it.
0:46:46 > 0:46:50And a couple of nights later - the foot...
0:46:50 > 0:46:52- Oh!- Gee whiz. Eh? - Now I can see what you mean.
0:46:52 > 0:46:55- Gee whiz.- It is really, really swollen.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57I mean, I can't believe it's not broken, can you?
0:46:57 > 0:47:00- No, it's not broken.- Yeah.- But it could look like it's broken...
0:47:00 > 0:47:04- Yeah.- ..but it's not.- The nurse said, you know, put it up in the air and
0:47:04 > 0:47:06obviously it would have been difficult in your tent
0:47:06 > 0:47:10- to kind of put it this high, wouldn't it?- Yeah, yeah, it would be.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13- Maybe...- Yeah, that would be good. - A bit underneath.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17I'll put it underneath and then I can rest my foot on that.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20I'm actually half glad I've got the bad foot now
0:47:20 > 0:47:23cos it meant Per could have a night's sleep in a hotel.
0:47:23 > 0:47:25WILLIE CHUCKLES
0:47:25 > 0:47:29- I feel like a human being again. - Good man.- Thank you very much.- Good man.
0:47:29 > 0:47:32How Per's done this for seven years in a tent,
0:47:32 > 0:47:34just amazes me.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36Oh...Jesus Christ!
0:47:36 > 0:47:37LAUGHTER
0:47:37 > 0:47:40OK, wake me up...in the morning, yeah.
0:47:40 > 0:47:44- Do your things.- Oh, bless you. - Oh, it's really nice.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48It's a real feeling, really. A bit like floating
0:47:48 > 0:47:51in the water or something like that.
0:47:51 > 0:47:56It's fantastic just the feeling that everything is clean and soft
0:47:56 > 0:48:00and even the smell, it does something to you
0:48:00 > 0:48:03and it's going to motivate me even more
0:48:03 > 0:48:06to get away from the situation I'm in.
0:48:06 > 0:48:10- Let's spend some time watching telly.- Yeah, that's a good idea.
0:48:31 > 0:48:32I'm going home.
0:48:32 > 0:48:34SHE LAUGHS
0:48:34 > 0:48:36Oh, God...
0:48:36 > 0:48:39Full of aches and pains...
0:48:39 > 0:48:40but I'm happy...
0:48:41 > 0:48:43SHE EXHALES
0:48:43 > 0:48:44SHE LAUGHS
0:48:44 > 0:48:47- Hello, young man.- You all right? - Yeah, very good.
0:48:47 > 0:48:52- Very good.- Rodney's made you the bed.- Yeah.- Great bed.- Yeah.
0:48:52 > 0:48:53You met John Bird.
0:48:53 > 0:48:55That conversation with him
0:48:55 > 0:48:58seemed to change something within you a little bit.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00I do suffer with depression but I know
0:49:00 > 0:49:03that my depression is not anywhere near as bad as it was
0:49:03 > 0:49:07and so now I feel like I can move on, you know.
0:49:07 > 0:49:11I've got to do it in order to be a better person for my daughter
0:49:11 > 0:49:13and that's what's egging me on more because you know,
0:49:13 > 0:49:17- I have messed up as a father... - Yeah.- Not all her life
0:49:17 > 0:49:20but definitely in the recent years but, you know...
0:49:20 > 0:49:23- You want to put that right.- I do want to put that right, yeah, definitely.
0:49:23 > 0:49:25- Definitely, definitely. - I know you can.
0:49:39 > 0:49:43- My father loved his drink and the problem with my father...- Uh-huh...
0:49:43 > 0:49:47- is he became violent when he'd had a drink.- Oh...
0:49:47 > 0:49:50And that is something that I found very hard...
0:49:50 > 0:49:53My dad was, like I say, a very big drinker and so much so...
0:49:53 > 0:49:56He even brought a lady into the house...
0:49:56 > 0:49:59- Locked my mother in the cellar... - Whoa...
0:49:59 > 0:50:02..so he could have the lady in the room. This is just when he's drunk.
0:50:02 > 0:50:05- Oh...- And that left a mental scar.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07When he had his first stroke - he lost his voice
0:50:07 > 0:50:10and he would cry. Now, whether he was crying because
0:50:10 > 0:50:13the stroke had made him do that or he'd realised over the years
0:50:13 > 0:50:17- what he'd done to the family...- And what did that do to you? I can see
0:50:17 > 0:50:19you get emotional...
0:50:19 > 0:50:20WILLIE STAMMERS
0:50:20 > 0:50:22Easy...
0:50:23 > 0:50:25Easy...
0:50:25 > 0:50:26Breathe. Breathe.
0:50:26 > 0:50:28You are in the right place to breathe.
0:50:30 > 0:50:31That was a big thing...
0:50:31 > 0:50:35I haven't been emotional till this last five days, you know...
0:50:35 > 0:50:39- OK.- I go around tickety-boo, everybody thinks...
0:50:39 > 0:50:42- everything's fine, it's not.- Yeah.
0:50:42 > 0:50:43I understand that.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01- So, are you nearly there? - Yeah, here we go, I can see Jamal.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03Oh, God....
0:51:03 > 0:51:05I am indeed...
0:51:05 > 0:51:07- Omar, is it?- Jamal.- Jamal, sorry, nice to meet you, yeah.
0:51:07 > 0:51:09Nice to meet you, Jamal, pleasure.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11Jatinder has come to meet with Jamal, the boss
0:51:11 > 0:51:14of a coffee business operating in partnership
0:51:14 > 0:51:18with The Big Issue, which offers work to homeless job-seekers.
0:51:18 > 0:51:22Homelessness can happen to anybody at any time in their life.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25For us, what's happened in the past doesn't really matter,
0:51:25 > 0:51:27it's all about who that person is now.
0:51:27 > 0:51:31We try and understand that person's individual capabilities
0:51:31 > 0:51:34and then give them the opportunity to work as a barista
0:51:34 > 0:51:36and take the next step forward.
0:51:36 > 0:51:40- LAUGHTER - I think the milk needed a bit more bubbles.- Yeah!
0:51:40 > 0:51:42I'm going to need some practice.
0:51:42 > 0:51:44Obviously, we need to have a bit of a trial and
0:51:44 > 0:51:47just make sure he's the right person but I think Jatinder really is...
0:51:47 > 0:51:50- He seems to be in the right place. - Seems to be in the right place
0:51:50 > 0:51:52and you get a good feeling and that's what you're looking for.
0:51:52 > 0:51:56- Yeah.- Jatinder will undergo training and a week's trial.
0:51:56 > 0:52:00If he's successful, he'll manage his own coffee cart
0:52:00 > 0:52:03- and be paid the living wage. - Cheers for this opportunity, Jamal, seriously.
0:52:03 > 0:52:06It's down to you, it's not anything else.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09I won't be letting you down, I ain't going to let myself down,
0:52:09 > 0:52:11so I won't be letting you down.
0:52:11 > 0:52:14Erm, so... This is where I say goodbye to you.
0:52:14 > 0:52:16Oh, you going, are you?! Well...
0:52:17 > 0:52:19Cheers for being my guest.
0:52:19 > 0:52:21HE CHUCKLES
0:52:21 > 0:52:25Thank you. It has been an experience. I'll see you later,
0:52:25 > 0:52:27- thank you.- Bye, J.- See ya.
0:52:39 > 0:52:41He's got the confidence, he's got the personality,
0:52:41 > 0:52:44he's got it all going down. He'll do well, I know he will.
0:52:47 > 0:52:51- Don't ever lose contact.- I won't. - I'm dying for you to get a place.
0:52:51 > 0:52:53I know, thank you...
0:52:53 > 0:52:54It's been smashing...
0:52:55 > 0:52:57Take care of yourself...
0:53:00 > 0:53:02You look after yourself, as well, yeah.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05Don't be upset. It's life. We have to...make the most of what
0:53:05 > 0:53:08you've got and get on with it, you know, it's all you can do.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10It's that or give up.
0:53:11 > 0:53:15- Well, this is St Pancras, my friend. - Yeah, the big station.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18- And you've got to go back to... - The big end.- The big end.
0:53:18 > 0:53:20It's been an absolute pleasure. Absolute pleasure.
0:53:20 > 0:53:24I think, without my wife, Jill...I would have probably given
0:53:24 > 0:53:27up on more than one occasion but, you know, Per's made
0:53:27 > 0:53:30me realise that you've got to be strong.
0:53:30 > 0:53:33He's finished drinking. Am I going to have a bet any more?
0:53:33 > 0:53:35I hope not.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38- You know, I really wish you luck, yeah?- Thanks.
0:53:38 > 0:53:41- And I will never, ever forget you. - Thanks.- All right, mate.
0:53:41 > 0:53:43- Cheers, mate, thanks.- All right...
0:53:43 > 0:53:45If I was to hope for one thing for James -
0:53:45 > 0:53:48it would be that he's reconciled with his daughter.
0:53:48 > 0:53:50If he's in a position where he can see his daughter
0:53:50 > 0:53:54and the people around his daughter are happy for him to see her,
0:53:54 > 0:53:58that would be brilliant. Hopefully for her, definitely for him
0:53:58 > 0:54:02and it will also mean that he's got to a place that
0:54:02 > 0:54:04is giving him half a chance.
0:54:04 > 0:54:06Hiya!
0:54:08 > 0:54:11- Hi!- Hello!
0:54:13 > 0:54:16- I missed you!- Did you?!
0:54:18 > 0:54:20Why shouldn't you cry?
0:54:22 > 0:54:26- You need a shave.- I need a shower.
0:54:26 > 0:54:30- How are you, mate, are you all right?- Oh, hello.- Hello.
0:54:31 > 0:54:34Oh...
0:54:34 > 0:54:36Oh, dear...
0:54:36 > 0:54:39It's really good to see you, lovely.
0:54:39 > 0:54:43Well done, we're really proud of you. Really proud of you.
0:54:45 > 0:54:48It was an important experience to have for me
0:54:48 > 0:54:51and for them because there's stuff to tell them and teach them and...
0:54:51 > 0:54:53BABY GURGLES
0:54:53 > 0:54:57..yeah. Yeah. And I'm lucky cos they were here waiting for me.
0:54:57 > 0:54:59I had something to come back to.
0:55:01 > 0:55:04One of the most humbling things that I've learnt out there is that
0:55:04 > 0:55:07how close I was to being in that situation.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10You really need to appreciate how much your family love you
0:55:10 > 0:55:12and we are around for you...
0:55:12 > 0:55:15It's so easy to take all that for granted
0:55:15 > 0:55:19- and disregard it because we're always here and...- Yeah.
0:55:19 > 0:55:23You know, you can't just keep carrying on what you were doing.
0:55:24 > 0:55:27- Have you got any answers to it? - I wish I had some answers,
0:55:27 > 0:55:30I was... There aren't any simple answers.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33It's going to be down to human kindness, volunteers,
0:55:33 > 0:55:37commerce - who want to get involved who can really help
0:55:37 > 0:55:39on an individual basis.
0:56:10 > 0:56:13- One cappuccino, sir?- Yes, please.
0:56:13 > 0:56:15- Ready to rock and roll.- Nice.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17So far, things are going really, really good.
0:56:17 > 0:56:21This one opportunity has opened so many doors for me.
0:56:21 > 0:56:23Get your cappuccinos...
0:56:23 > 0:56:27I'm a lot more independent, you know, it is an amazing project.
0:56:27 > 0:56:30You know what I mean, I'm proud to be part of it.
0:56:33 > 0:56:37Sport Relief money is at work tonight all across the UK.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40It's supporting the homeless, not just to survive
0:56:40 > 0:56:43but to get off the streets. Giving people like these
0:56:43 > 0:56:45a chance to rebuild their lives.
0:56:45 > 0:56:49You can make a real difference to people who have lost their homes.
0:56:49 > 0:56:52To make a donation...