Street Artist - Dean

Dean with his Guitar

Dean has been on and off homeless for the last 12 years - he says he just cant pay bills. This most recent bout of homelessness came as a result of him getting behind in his rent.

He prefers to offer something in exchange for funds so he's a guitarist. He has been in Bournemouth for about 6 months but doesn't qualify for any assistance from the council because he 'has no local ties.

Dean's sister, Jo, has just reached Bournemouth to join him and is paying £40 out of her £60 weekly benefit for accommodation at the YMCA. This should eventually qualify Dean for some Social Assistance with a local sibling connection; until then - he's looking at a long and hostile Winter. Of course Dean could sit for decades until his bones freeze over, but this wont count as any local connection with the pavement or anything else - he literally doesn't count until he becomes a contributing member of the system - through bills, rent, etc.Indeed this is how so many of the homeless remain invisible and isolated - I guess the hope is that they just keep moving - out of sight. Anywhere, we don't mind!

A random destitute lady - marginalised and ignored

He has from time to time taken drugs and his sister, Jo, started on Morphine as a result of chronic pain resulting from an unfortunate car accident. Although formerly on a £40k salary, her life has spiralled down to just-over-broke.

This isn't the first sibling connection I've witnessed here in Bournemouth - its almost like an underclass of the dis-enfranchised is being allowed to develop - whilst the rest of us go on our merry way.

Jo has in the past been quite an activist for the homeless, having witnessed it first-hand via her brother. She intends to take on Bournemouth as a new frontier, given her shock and dismay as she assesses the current state of play here.