Josh’s Story

I was working in logistics for a high-street shop, and rented privately in London up until May 2023.

My landlord evicted me at really short notice, and I became homeless, which is something I never thought would happen. I spent months sofa-surfing with friends, but after a while I felt guilty; I felt like it wasn’t fair for them or me either. In December 2023, I left my friend’s house and started sleeping outside by the Imperial War Museum; it was really cold, and I felt so isolated from the world.

I’ve now been living at Your Place for around a month, and in such a short time, I’ve been so touched by the way that staff have reached out to me and cared about my wellbeing. I’m always being asked how I am, and now I can say that I’m feeling great; I’m still so surprised at how nice people are here.

When I became homeless, I decided that I didn’t want to feel self-pity, and when I get supported here, it’s not pity that I experience from people. The way that staff communicate is very clear and positive, not because they feel sorry for me. They give me the dignity I need to be able to move forward in life.

I feel safe here, and it feels good to be able to start over again. Previously I felt safer on the streets than in shared, enclosed spaces, but at Your Place it’s different. They have all the facilities I need here. The whole experience has been about integrity; I’ve never felt guilt or shame about myself or my situation.

I have been in work since I was fourteen years old, and I work hard, so I’m open to what the future holds for me. I have gotten through many obstacles, and I can do it again.

While I’ve been at Your Place, I’ve been making recordings and notes of my thoughts and ideas. I don’t know what it’s going to be yet, maybe a book, maybe it could be a blog. For now, I’m the only audience; documenting my experiences is really helping me process things that have happened in my life.