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'Desperate' Manchester dad tells of ordeal living in car | 'Desperate' Manchester dad tells of ordeal living in car |
(about 14 hours later) | |
A man who was forced to live in his car after a relationship breakdown has talked of continuing to work full-time. | A man who was forced to live in his car after a relationship breakdown has talked of continuing to work full-time. |
Isaac Brobbey used an Asda car park in Greater Manchester as a base for a month and a McDonald's to wash in. | Isaac Brobbey used an Asda car park in Greater Manchester as a base for a month and a McDonald's to wash in. |
The father-of-two, who managed to hold down his job at a truck rental firm, said his kind of experience shows how homelessness is often misunderstood. | The father-of-two, who managed to hold down his job at a truck rental firm, said his kind of experience shows how homelessness is often misunderstood. |
He spoke out after the Manchester Evening News revealed a man who died in a van fire was living in the vehicle. | He spoke out after the Manchester Evening News revealed a man who died in a van fire was living in the vehicle. |
Homelessness charity The Wellspring, in Stockport, said the man worked in the building industry and had been in the process of trying to find a home. | Homelessness charity The Wellspring, in Stockport, said the man worked in the building industry and had been in the process of trying to find a home. |
Mr Brobbey, 50, said: "I had too much dignity to ask for help. Now I want to help others." | Mr Brobbey, 50, said: "I had too much dignity to ask for help. Now I want to help others." |
Originally from Ancoats, Manchester, he said a break-up in 2012 left him with "no choice" but to leave his home, and financial problems made matters worse. | Originally from Ancoats, Manchester, he said a break-up in 2012 left him with "no choice" but to leave his home, and financial problems made matters worse. |
"To cut a long story short I just didn't have anywhere to go," he said. | "To cut a long story short I just didn't have anywhere to go," he said. |
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"I drove around for a good few hours trying to make some sense of it, and then just suddenly realised I would have to sleep in the car. Reality hit me. | "I drove around for a good few hours trying to make some sense of it, and then just suddenly realised I would have to sleep in the car. Reality hit me. |
"I used to come into work every day and no one was aware of my situation. My family weren't aware and I didn't want to bother my kids. | "I used to come into work every day and no one was aware of my situation. My family weren't aware and I didn't want to bother my kids. |
"The worst thing was every time you leave work and listening to your colleagues going home to their wives and going out on the weekend - but you know you've got nothing. There was a lot of crying." | "The worst thing was every time you leave work and listening to your colleagues going home to their wives and going out on the weekend - but you know you've got nothing. There was a lot of crying." |
'Hidden homeless' | 'Hidden homeless' |
Jonathan Billings, chief executive of the Wellspring charity, said he has seen "dozens and dozens" of similar cases of people continuing to work after losing their homes. | Jonathan Billings, chief executive of the Wellspring charity, said he has seen "dozens and dozens" of similar cases of people continuing to work after losing their homes. |
He said they represent a "hidden homeless" population, and the issue is challenging conventional perceptions of homelessness. | He said they represent a "hidden homeless" population, and the issue is challenging conventional perceptions of homelessness. |
"There's a stigma attached and it's often difficult for people to ask for support," he said. | "There's a stigma attached and it's often difficult for people to ask for support," he said. |
Mr Brobbey, who eventually found a bedsit to rent and still works in the same job, continued: "I would wash in work, or in McDonald's. And having nowhere to cook meant I was just eating fast food all the time. | Mr Brobbey, who eventually found a bedsit to rent and still works in the same job, continued: "I would wash in work, or in McDonald's. And having nowhere to cook meant I was just eating fast food all the time. |
"I didn't see myself as homeless and I didn't want my family to feel their brother or son was homeless." | "I didn't see myself as homeless and I didn't want my family to feel their brother or son was homeless." |
Mr Brobbey, who spent Christmas handing out food to the homeless, said he wanted to urge anyone in similar circumstances to not "suffer in silence". | Mr Brobbey, who spent Christmas handing out food to the homeless, said he wanted to urge anyone in similar circumstances to not "suffer in silence". |
"I see homelessness in a totally different light now. I can see how easy it is to spiral," he said. | "I see homelessness in a totally different light now. I can see how easy it is to spiral," he said. |
"There's help out there, so ask for help." | "There's help out there, so ask for help." |
Isaac Brobbey will tell his story as part of BBC Radio Manchester's Over To You project, which has seen volunteers helping to produce the station's output. | Isaac Brobbey will tell his story as part of BBC Radio Manchester's Over To You project, which has seen volunteers helping to produce the station's output. |
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