An ex-homeless man is transforming an old carpet shop into a shelter for rough sleepers and the homeless.
Building Developer, James Worthington, has experienced homelessness throughout his life. Now, he has committed to building the shelter on Seedley Road, to help those who are in a similar position.
The building will be demolished and rebuilt with seven or eight units in the building. The shelter will have a reception, communal areas, with a workshop location, and a garden with a playground for children.
Mr Worthington said: “A lot try to get help and can’t get it. And the ones who do get help, normally they thrive from it. That is why I’m doing this.”
At the age of fourteen, James left his own home. With nowhere to go he couched surfed from one friend’s house to the other, relying on food from friend’s families. Although he only spent a few weeks in this situations, he will always consider these as ‘the worst time of my [his] life.’
He said: “I was lucky enough to have my friend’s dad to rescue me. Cause God knows what would have happened to me.”
This weeks update and can anybody lend me a workman’s cabin for a few months. Please RT everyone 🙏 @MySalford @SalfordGazette @SelcoBW @mkmbs @salford_mayor @MayorofGM @TravisPerkinsCo @GNev2 @DIYSOS pic.twitter.com/rytknJIEru
— 19 seedley Road development W.R.E (@worthy3112) October 14, 2022
An online survey by Salford Council said that “more people appear to be presenting when they are already homeless… rather than at the earlier stage when they are threatened with homelessness.”
Since 2019, 1,500 people have become homeless in Salford, with the number set to increase as the cost of living impacts local families.
The ‘Saving People Shelter Project’ is another scheme helping to place homeless people in Greater Manchester into flats. The project’s creator, Stuart Potts said: “In this current climate, it’s only going to get worse. Everything is going up and people can’t afford to live as it is at the minute.”
Mr Potts believes that, as bills become less affordable, Salford and Greater Manchester will see a wave of homelessness.
Reflecting on his own experience, he said: “If you have never been homeless, you are not going to know what it feels unless it hits you.”
This is something James Worthington can relate to. With his own experience with homelessness, he understands what it’s like to be on the streets, with no help.
James Worthington continued: “To be in the streets, is a terrible place to be, and you got to be rock bottom to be there.”
If you would like to help James Worthington, you can go to his GoFundMe.
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