Christmas

Just before Christmas 2007, Keith told us how he ended up without a home.

"I'm living in a homeless hostel at the moment, through a family break-down. I've been homeless for a couple of years now. Although I haven't been in a hostel for all of that time. This time, I've been in for about two months. Usually I'm in a hostel for a couple of months, and then someone will offer me some sofa space.

"Before I was made homeless, I was out of the country for a while and met some friends in Europe who told me to look them up in York when I returned to the country. That was 1997. I came and looked them up and stopped with them until the Christmas of 1997/8.

"Then I met a girl here and decided to get a job and accommodation in York. But the job wasn't full-time, I knew it was temporary. But my landlord wasn't willing to continue my lease when he knew I was going to have to claim housing benefit.

"Since then, I haven't really had a place of my own. The girl I met, it was such a dynamic relationship, we found ourselves pregnant really quickly, and now have a beautiful wee daughter now.

"But late last year, after months and months of misery we broke up. Splits don't just happen, it's like a long slow-drawn out divorce. After we split up, I went to the council.

"The council informed me that I wasn't a priority for housing as I didn't claim child benefit, which was paid directly to her mother. They said that the only help that they could give me was to tell me about the Arc Light Hostel on Leeman Road.

Arc Light in York

"So I went along and had a chat with them and they were in a position to offer me a bed. It's not very private, it's a bed in a dorm. My daughter isn't allowed to visit, so it's quite difficult.

"The room I'm in has seven or eight beds in it. I'm fortunate really as the guys I'm sharing with are a nice bunch really. So there are no problems with things going missing or anything.

"We're really just flung together. I'd never crossed paths with anyone that I'm sharing a room with. So we're all strangers really, making the best of the situation we're in.

"I slept in town for a long time, for months. Over last Christmas and New Year I slept in Lady Peckitt's Lane. We built ourselves a wee sort of shelter, put lots of cardboard down and bedding. But someone burnt it down one afternoon. Fortunately we weren't in it, they could have done it when we were in it at night-time sleeping!

"Your health really suffers being out in the damp and the cold. You can really feel it in your bones. Your breathing suffers, you can feel wheezy and stuff like that.

"I used to pass this shop just down the road on the Piccadilly and it's got big four poster beds and I used to think, oh what I'd give to be in it, and then going back to Lady Peckitts and lying on cardboard...

"This Christmas I certainly feel more safe and secure. I know my daughter is safe with her Mum and is really looking forward to the holiday and Santa coming. I know the step I've taken is in the right direction, it's not backwards.

"The symbol of Arc Light is a rainbow and I feel as though they have put a bit of colour into what I see and how I feel, most definitely."

Keith