Sean has been homeless for just over a year; he originally hales from London. He became homeless after witnessing his, then fiance, sleeping with his own brother. He left her distraught and with the property in order to relinquish his home to his sons, twin boys.
His ex-fiance has since had the children removed from her into their Grandmother's custady, but Sean misses them terribly. Sean is 3rd gneration in care - he grew up in a combination of foster homes and children's homes - but it was his fiance's unfaithfulness that finally drove him down-and-out.
Sean is well qualified and comes from a counselling background - having obtained a level 3 qualification in it. He is also a trained tatooist and was a fully functioning member of society until his recent emotional trauma.
He now sleeps in car parks and doorways and is gradually trading through all of his possessions just to survive.
He sells the 'Big Issue' but would much rather be a street artist or professional tatooist.The former requires a trading license which he has been refused due to 'no local ties' in the area. The latter is a challenge because Sean finds it difficult to turn up to interviews washed and prepped to perform outside his street existence. Daily some stop and offer him potential opportunities only to renege their promise upon witnessing him in less favourable circumstances or attire.
Seam is optimistic about his future - because he has real skills and marketable qualifications. The danger is that he may no survive the streets though - only last night he woke to see a 'burly blonde man about to stamp on his head' - upon meeting eyes with Sean, he decided to just trample his sketches instead. But this, Sean tells me, damaged his heart and soul deeply.
To be honest I am a little concerned at the recent and sinister antagonism towards the local destitute in Bournemouth - perhaps even encouraged by the governments recent 'kindness kills' anti-charitable announcements. A 21 year old was found dead in the streets just this week, plus Hayden who we recently blogged about had his trainers stolen from him while he slept - the same Friday night that Sean was almost assaulted.
I will research and blog further on this recent violent down-turn.
On a side note, in line with the fact that Sean is part of the 3rd generation of his family in-care, he tells me that his sister is sleeping rough and in London; her homelessness experience has been even more challenging than his because of the recent installation of pavement spikes to deter the homeless from loitering. She apparently rolled over, accidentally spiking her hip - and now has these injuries to deal with on top of her obvious housing needs. I truly question how we value human beings when I hear of such mistreatment. What's more important - clearing the problematic from our eyesight or offering real solutions to their problems?
On a side note, in line with the fact that Sean is part of the 3rd generation of his family in-care, he tells me that his sister is sleeping rough and in London; her homelessness experience has been even more challenging than his because of the recent installation of pavement spikes to deter the homeless from loitering. She apparently rolled over, accidentally spiking her hip - and now has these injuries to deal with on top of her obvious housing needs. I truly question how we value human beings when I hear of such mistreatment. What's more important - clearing the problematic from our eyesight or offering real solutions to their problems?
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