Hello everyone, its John Chiko once again.

So, in this report I will be talking about the lessons I learnt during my own stint with homelessness, which lasted around four years until I got my own accommodation, a place that I could call home. This article most certainly comes from the heart, for what I experienced when I was homeless are what built my character and my current aspirations. On that note, let us begin.

The Streets Are a Jungle

Being homeless in Coventry between the years of 2014 to 2021 taught me that the streets are like a jungle. The streets are harsh, unpredictable, and dangerous. When you are homeless, you quickly learn to navigate an environment where survival instincts kick in, and each day presents a new set of challenges. It is a constant struggle to find safety, food, and shelter. Every corner you turn holds uncertainty, and it’s easy to fall into a state of hyper-vigilance, where trust becomes a rare commodity.  The noise, the

cold, and the often-overlooked dangers can wear you down, both physically, mentally and emotionally.

It took me a while to learn to keep my guard up, to trust my own instincts, not to fall into the wiles of those who seek to take advantage of you. It took me a few missing phones, items of clothing, and money, to make me realise that not all those who seem friendly have the right intentions. Whether it was finding somewhere to sleep or securing a meal, every decision I made felt like it could determine my future, the important steps toward the light at the end of the tunnel.

The streets are full of unpredictability, and that uncertainty breeds a kind of resilience. You toughen up, because you have to. But the experience also strips you down to your core. Revealing both your vulnerabilities and your strengths.

Pain & Neglect Create Homelessness

One of the most painful lessons I learned from personal experience is that homelessness often stems from a cycle of pain and neglect. It’s not just about losing a job or missing a rent payment. There is usually a deeper, darker and sadder story behind it. Many people, including myself, fall into homelessness due to breakdowns of relationships, and weak support from the system incapable of supporting us. The lack of affordable housing or mental health services and social safety nets can turn a temporary crisis into a downward spiral.

For me, it was a mix of personal loss, personal negligence, financial instability, and the absence of a support network. When I became homeless, I quickly realised that I wasn’t alone in this experience. Many others on the streets had similar stories of neglect, from broken families, broken relationships, to untreated mental health issues. The system often overlooks people until they are too far gone, leaving them nowhere to turn. The neglect and isolation create a cycle that’s difficult to break out of, especially when the resources available are limited and hard to access.

Homeless People Are Not Bad People

I must admit that there is a stigma that surrounds homelessness, a misconception that people who are homeless are bad people. A belief exists that people on the streets must have down something wrong to end up there. But the reality is far different. Homelessness is often the result of circumstances beyond a person’s control. Whether it’s losing a job, escaping an abusive situation, or dealing with mental health issues.

The people I met during my time on the streets were some of the most compassionate, resilient, and resourceful individuals I’ve ever known. It was people who had experienced homelessness that gave me a sofa and sometimes a bed to sleep when I had nowhere to go. Despite their hardships, they shared what little they had, whether it was food, advice, or just a listening ear. Homelessness doesn’t define a person’s character, only circumstance. It’s a situation they find themselves in. I learned to see past the stereotypes and to understand that we all have the potential to fall on hard times.

Help Is Out There, You Have to Seek It

While it can feel overwhelming and isolating, there is help out there, you just have to seek it. One of the hardest parts of being homeless is feeling invisible, as though the world has forgotten about you. But through my journey, I discovered that there are people, organisations, and charities who are dedicated to helping people in need. The problem is that it’s not always easy to find them, and sometimes pride or fear gets in the way of asking for help.

I learned that the first step is to reach out to shelters, food banks, outreach programs and even just people who might offer a kind word. Ask people in your area where to find these organisations and which people to contact in order to receive assistance. It was courage and desperation that pushed me to seek help, especially after experiencing rejection and disappointment from those who were closest to me. But in the end, it all made a difference. Once I connected with the right resources, I found temporary accommodation, meals, and eventually pathways to permanent accommodation. It was not easy, it required persistence, but knowing that I had support gave the strength to keep going.

Positivity & Perseverance Are Key

If’s there’s one thing that kept me going during those difficult years, it was positivity and perseverance. It’s easy to give in to despair when you’re living on the streets, with no clear way out. But I quickly realised that maintaining a positive outlook and staying determined were the only ways to survive and eventually escape homelessness. There were days when I felt hopeless, but I forced myself to keep looking for opportunities, no matter how small.

Positive doesn’t mean ignoring the harsh realities; it means finding hope even in the darkest situations. I held on to the belief that things could change, and I focused on the small victories, like securing a bed for the night or making a new connection. Perseverance was equally important as there were countless setbacks. Regardless, I kept pushing forward and, in the end, it was a combination of mindset and effort that helped me get off the streets and into a stable living situation.