Generous Hucknall community appeal helps homeless man get off the street and into new flat

Andrew, who could often be seen outside the Tesco store on Ashgate Road, has moved into a property found by the All Saints homeless shelter in Nottingham. The property has been kitted out with donations from local good Samaritans.

It is the end result of several months of effort by Julia Lindo, a volunteer with the homelessness charity Reach Out, Kathy Sheldon, and other supporters.

Julia, 45, who lives on St Mary’s Way, said: “I normally go into Nottingham on a Thursday evening to provide food and clothing to homeless people but I’ve been working with Andrew more on a one-to-one basis.

“He’s an elderly gentleman with health issues, he’s struggling to walk about at the moment. He shouldn’t be on the street. In this day and age, nobody should.”

She added: “I’d seen him at Tesco but he would come and go. I kept missing him. It was a huge relief when I finally found him. He was desperate to get off the street, so we got the ball rolling.”

Julia found emergency accommodation for Andrew and then immediately began working on a more lasting solution. She has been in contact with him every day since that first conversation.

An online appeal raised enough money to get Andrew into a hotel, and then the bond guarantee for the flat.

Julia said: “I made a lot of calls crying out to private landlords but eventually it was All Saints that came to the rescue. This is temporary, a stepping stone, but we are working to get him somewhere more permanent.

She added: “The community spirit around this has been tremendous. Everyone has got together and donated food hampers, bedding a television and furniture for the flat. There is money left to keep him going and I’m trying to source a mobility scooter.

“Andrew is just overwhelmed by the generosity, and my heart is happy to know he is off the streets. He’s got a lot of connections in the homeless community so we are both hoping to help more people now.”

To donate to the appeal, go to https://bit.ly/2P3g8E5 or contact [email protected] or 07595335120.

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