Profile: Roughing It
Do you recognise Andy? Until recently he was a familiar face around Moseley, but not a particularly welcome one. Perhaps you hurried past him with a frown, or handed over your change with a look of pity, because for nine months Andy was a rough sleeper in the area, begging for money which he used to buy alcohol. But now, thanks to support from housing and care organisation Midland Heart, he’s off the streets and turning his life around. Like many rough sleepers, Andy had a rocky start in life. A family break down meant he ended up in care. This disrupted childhood, followed by a long term drink problem, left Andy with no support network. After stints in various hostels, Andy began sleeping rough in 2012 when he was evicted for not paying the rent - he’d spent all his money on alcohol. It was winter and he had nowhere to go. Armed with just a sleeping bag and a blanket, Andy spent nine months living on the streets around Moseley and Kings Heath. He spent some nights in the dis...