John
“He’s my best friend. He’s always here for me. I have had him since he was six-weeks-old, and now he’s eight years and two months.”
Up until March John was doing ok. He had a flat and regular work which covered the rent, bills and food for him and his dog RJ. Then the work got a little bit sporadic as news of the coronavirus started to surface and then the lockdown came and the work stopped completely.
“It happened really quickly. I couldn’t pay the rent and then I lost the flat and now I’m here. Even though things are getting better, I still can’t get work because I don’t have a place. I don’t have a fixed address”. He said its been tough but St Mungo’s (Charity) have been really supportive
“They’re helping me a lot, to try to get me somewhere to live so I can work again.” Apart from the support of St Mungo’s John said the reaction of people who pass him everyday on the street is mixed.
“It’s 50/50 really. Some people stop and talk, others sometimes buy me something from Tesco, but other people aren’t so kind……Friday night this man, he tried to pee on me. He was out drinking with his mates and he thought it was funny. Then he saw RJ come come over and saw he was with me so he stopped. He got scared. RJ is really gentle and calm normally but if he thinks anyone is going to hurt me or do something bad he can change quickly!”
But John is hopeful things are going to change soon.
“They said they’ve found me a flat and I should be able to move in, in two weeks. Then I can start applying for jobs again. For now I am just trying to keep away from people to avoid this virus. I can’t get sick. I have to stay healthy, otherwise who would look after RJ?”
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London Rebooted - Portrait Photography Project.
Images Copyright of London Photographer Nathan Clarke | For any image use or enquiries contact me at nathan@nathanclarkephotography.co.uk