Kyle Greenall, 26, is a chef from Leeds. He tells Claire Donnelly about his home, a tent outside the city centre – and why he feels so hopeless.
I have struggled to get somewhere proper to live all my life.
I was a care-leaver. I left care at 16 and that was it, I was out. I got an empty flat and £200 to get everything I needed.
(Image: Daily Mirror)
I found it really hard to manage, to sort out all the money, to make it go round.
By the time I’d paid everything I’d be lucky if I had £5 left for food.
I ended up homeless. Now I live in a tent – about 20 minutes walk away from the city.
It’s safe-ish. I have a dog that kind of guards me, otherwise it might not be safe.
I’ve got some stuff there and I can get food from people out here on the streets but it’s hard keeping yourself clean, your clothes and your personal hygiene.
I am a trained chef and I apply for jobs but it’s hard getting them because I can’t wash my clothes and things very easily.
There is a place in town where they let you use the washers but last time someone took some of my stuff and my sleeping bag so I’ve got to be careful.
I get Universal Credit at the minute. Even though I’m living in the tent there is never enough money. I don’t have one penny on me now. That is pretty normal for me.
I tried to kill myself a few weeks ago – because of all this. I don’t really think about the future, it doesn’t feel like I have one.”
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