A “second chance at life” after nearly 40 years of homelessness

26 Oct 2026

A man who had been homeless in London for the best part of 40 years has told how support from West Suffolk Council has given him “a second chance at life.”

Neil (not his real name) has shared his story in the hope that it will inspire others not to give up hope.

“I think I’ve learnt by mistakes and I’ve got a second chance at life now,” he said. “I always try to be kind to others because I know how hard life can be.”

Brought up in children’s homes from the age of two, Neil came out of care and found himself living on the streets “for a long time.”  

He got a flat, fell in love and got married. But on New Year’s Eve 2000, a week before his first wedding anniversary, his wife died from a brain haemorrhage.

“I went downhill; I ended up in psychiatric units. I got out of that, but I’d lost my flat. I was living on the street, going from house-to-house sofa surfing.”

“Then I got a job, working away, living in hotels paid for by the company. I worked there for years and years. It was only sleeping rough at the weekends then.”

Tragedy struck again when Neil’s brother who he grew up with in the same care home, died from cancer. Neil also had two dogs both of which died around this time Unable to cope, Neil lost his job.

“I walked into the woods, just built myself a camp in the woods and I stayed in there for months, in the snow and everything. I enjoyed it. I didn’t see anyone.”

Then a friend who knew where he was camped came to say that Neil’s sister, who lives in Bury St Edmunds, was trying to get in contact with him.

“She heard I was going through a bad patch; she said why don’t you move up here to try to start afresh and that is what I did. But I couldn’t stay at hers. They didn’t have enough room, so they got me a tent to sleep in the garden.”

It was there that Neil, came to the attention of West Suffolk Council’s Rough Sleeper Support Service.

“He said you can’t stay like this, and within a couple of weeks they got me a place.”

“I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for them. They’ve basically done everything for me. When I have been low, they have been there for me. They do a marvellous job,” he said.

But Neil’s story nearly didn’t have a happy ending.  

“Just as things were going good for me, I collapsed I was in an induced coma and on life support for most of last year. They didn’t think I was going to make it, and I did apparently die.

“I’ve had to learn to walk, talk and eat again which has not been easy but there are other people in worst positions than me.”

Now he wants his story to encourage others not to give up hope.

“Push on each day because things will get better eventually. Stay strong and don’t give up and if you have bad thoughts talk to someone and get help for it.

“I just want to help others. I’ve been helped a lot, so you got to give a little back and that’s the only goal I have – that and to breathe each day.”

West Suffolk Council’s works to prevent and reduce homelessness including rough sleeping, the Government term for people who are sleeping outdoors each night including in tents, garages, woodland, on the streets and in makeshift shelters.

The council has invested in more temporary accommodation which is used to support people from across West Suffolk who have become homeless, as well as veterans from across the UK, care leavers and people fleeing domestic abuse.

If you see or suspect someone is sleeping rough, the quickest way to alert the council is through StreetLink https://thestreetlink.org.uk A notification is then sent to West Suffolk Council’s Rough Sleeper Support Service which, if they aren’t already aware, will go out to find and speak to the person in an effort to help them.

The council also supports Bury Drop In’s Looking for Change campaign in Bury St Edmunds which encourages people not to give money directly to people they see on the streets as sometimes it feeds addiction and can result in people losing, leaving or refusing accommodation. People can instead donate to the Drop In to help former rough sleepers rebuild their lives at www.burydropin.org/donate

Hear from Neil and follow #neilsstory on Facebook and Instagram

And on YouTube.

 

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