
A follow-up interview with Joe, who has experienced homelessness and problems with addiction
By Lucy Cribb, Healthwatch Dorset Engagement Officer
We recently caught up with Joe* whose story was featured in our September 2024 report, Voiceless, unheard and socially excluded. The report highlighted the challenges faced by local people experiencing homelessness or living in vulnerable housing when they need to access health and social care services.
When we first spoke to Joe in March 2024, he was experiencing homelessness and suffering from chronic alcoholism. He talked about his recent hospital admissions, going into withdrawal while in hospital, and then discharging himself because of the withdrawal symptoms. He had spent 16 months living in a shop doorway in the centre of town, which he was then evicted from and spent a month living on a roundabout in a tent. (Read that interview with Joe.)
Nine months later and Joe’s story is very different, showing just how vital it is not to give up, on yourself or others, and to provide the right support and treatment at the right time.
*Joe’s name was changed to Jay in the report, but he has since given consent to use his real first name.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you are up to now?
My name is Joseph, and I used to be a regular visitor to the HealthBus, which is where I first met Lucy from Healthwatch Dorset. In my spare time I enjoy playing football, going on long walks, making new friends and I support Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
I am now housed in Portsmouth, which I am enjoying, and I am employed as a groundworker. Groundwork is what I used to do for a job before I found myself living on the streets. My job, which I love, mainly involves landscape gardening and laying driveways for residential properties.
What was your situation this time last year?
This time last year, I was in a very dark place. I was living on the streets, drinking probably 10 litres of cider a day, if not more. It was a horrible time. It was freezing cold, and you can’t just go to have a hot shower or have a hot meal. You don’t know what is going to happen to you when you’re asleep and you don’t know where the next bottle is going to come from. It’s dangerous on the streets, I got robbed a few times. I also had three tents taken away by the council, which makes living even harder.
I’ve turned it around though and I am proud to say I am now four months sober.
What was the turning point for you?
It’s quite hard to explain, but I just said to myself: “Is this really it for me, I’m 30 years of age and I’m living on a roundabout!”
I knew that l couldn’t carry on living like that for much longer. My health was deteriorating and in hindsight I don’t think I had another winter left in me.
Luckily for me, I was given an opportunity of going to rehab and I grabbed it. I’ve managed to turn my life around and I’m pleased to say that my days are totally different now.
In your experience, how can health and social care services make things easier for people who are in the situation that you were in?
When I was in hospital, which was a few times, I wasn’t offered any Librium to help manage the withdrawal symptoms. Being offered Librium would have been fantastic for me.
The length of time that you are in hospital is also hard because you have nothing to help pass the time and distract you from the withdrawal. I felt forced to sneak drink in and then I got caught and was kicked out. I was then back out on the street, still very ill and stuck in that vicious circle again. I didn’t want to be sneaking drink into hospital but at the time I was shaking so badly and in pain. I said to them: “Look, I’m really shaking here.” The other times I was in hospital I ended up discharging myself for the same reason. It was just a repeat process.
Also, being able to get a GP appointment would be good. I was registered with the Panton Practice (in Bournemouth) but trying to get an appointment was a complete nightmare. That’s why I used to go to the HealthBus, because I could get seen and they really helped me. Unfortunately, if I’m honest, that wasn’t my experience with NHS services.
What services have helped you and had a positive impact?
The HealthBus have been great. I could get a hot shower on a Thursday; some hot food and I got to spend time with a good crowd. Thursday was the highlight of the week for me.
Hope for Food was also really good to me, as was With You (formerly ‘We are With You’), St Mungo’s, and the Hub Café at Landsdowne. They all offer a really good service and the people who work for them are really nice.
If someone is in the situation that you were in, what do you think could help them?
Before the services try to help them, the person needs to want to help themselves; let’s be honest about that! I do feel that NHS services could do a lot more to help individuals who are in the situation that I was in, but it must be down to the individual as well, one hundred percent. There are some people out there who just don’t want to be helped, and they won’t try to use community-based services. I think they become reluctant to help themselves because other people don’t want to, which influences them, and they get stuck in a circle.
If I had one piece of advice to give to someone who had just fallen on hard times, it would be to go out there and get all the help that you can get. Make connections and use the services like the HealthBus, Hope for Food, St Mungo’s etc. There’s something on most days, so use them. More importantly though, just don’t go down that road because it is a long and hard road back.
Five months later, I made it out of there and my life is completely different now, but it hasn’t been easy.
What is a typical day like for you now?
A typical day in Portsmouth is just day to day stuff really. I’m currently living in a shared dry house and I’m slowly getting back into work. I do the groundwork a couple of days a week and I’ll be working some more days from January.
I attend AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings six times a week and I’m halfway through the 12-step programme.
What are your goals for the future?
This time next year I want to have my driving licence. I want to put a deposit down on a flat and by March 2025 I want to be working full time, which will help with the driving licence and the property.
If you had asked me that question this time last year, then my goal then would have been to be sober. I used to think that wasn’t even a possibility but now look at me sat here with you saying that!
More information
Listen to a recent interview that Joe recorded with HealthBus: Homeless to Housed, Joe 2024
Read our full report which includes details of local support services: Voiceless, unheard and socially excluded – Accessing health and care while homeless or vulnerably housed
Share your story
Get in touch to share your experiences of local health and social care services, good and bad, to help make care better for Dorset residents: Contact us