Hostels Springer 6
Known by everyone on the homelessness scene as Springer, this former rough sleeper has led a troubled life, living in desperate circumstances and sometimes finding himself on the wrong side of the law. He spent 15 years sleeping rough in central London and begging to support his heroin habit – doubling his earnings to £300 a day at one stage once he’d got his hands on a wheelchair which Springer used as a ‘prop’, rather than because he really needed it. For many years he would get involved in arguments and punch-ups with other homeless people, as well as being the victim of gang violence – he was once found unconscious outside a London tube station with a nine-inch stab wound in his stomach.
“ He’s been a resident at Thames Reach’s Graham House hostel since 2006 but took years to settle in and continually abandoned the project and returned to the streets. Thames Reach, however, is committed to never giving up on people, no matter how complex, chaotic and challenging they may be. “ In 2009 an initiative was launched to help a group of the 205 most entrenched rough sleepers in London, including Springer, who was given special access to Graham House after intensive work by outreach teams. “ Springer has now gone the best part of a year without walking out of the hostel and his support worker, Andy, has tirelessly supported him to get his life back on track. “ Springer is making progress. He no longer injects heroin and he’s starting to engage with staff and other residents. “ At times he can really be quite charming. He’s lost much of his anger and become a much more laid back person. He’s got some health problems but he’s brave and he is now looking to move on with his life.”