Hayden's Brother - Ron - Siblings in Care

Ron has been homeless longer than Hayden - he is 41 and Hayden is 31. Ron grew up in a combination of Children's homes and his grandmother's home. He became homeless when his Grandmother died, when he was just 25 years old. 

He spiralled into depression and out-of-society. He has had a history of drug and alcoholism since bereavement. 17 yeas on he struggles alonside his brother, Hayden to make a living from 'Big Issue' sales'. The bigger issue of course is that neither of them can ever qualify for any social assistance anywhere because their childhood's in care has robbed them from any 'local connection'. Their lot then is to try and raise a combined £1400 from incremental Big Issue street sales. Of course it doesn't help when Hayden wakes to find his essentials robbed. Suffering from 'trench foot' he needed to buy back his trainers that had been stolen last night while he slept rough in a shop doorway.

Kids in care seem doubly disenfranchised - with the odds permanently stacked against them from birth. Few beat the odds, many fall foul, few of us seem to even know much less care.

Hayden and Ron are currently appealing their rejection for assistance with local detox and will get a decision next week. I have offered to assist them with paper work - they are going through the designated Bournemouth Council appeal process. Let's hope that their dedication sways the decision in their favour.

United they stand - we mustn't let them fall!

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.