David

An urgent plea for people to take part in some filming led to me and Heather being outside a Subway in Trafford in the rain as the Homes for Britain film makers got the ‘final’ shots they needed for the campaign film.

Whilst we faced the curious stares of passers by and those on the bus David got stuck in carrying the flag, a responsibility he embraced with all the seriousness required of some people dressed in fuscia tabards pretending to be on a housing march on a wet Wednesday afternoon.


David, like many of the ‘actors’ that afternoon was from St Vincent’s foyer project, supported accommodation for 16 to 25 year olds in Manchester. He mentioned that he’d also been in another of the films to be used at the housing rally in London.

What he didn’t mention was that he’d been made homeless at 17 after his mother died. You can see his story in the film below.

Not only was David brave enough to be filmed talking about some of the most personal aspects of his life he was also there when it was shown to an audience of 2500 people at the London rally.

Not in the back, outside or hidden from view but sitting on the stage right under the film being played. It’s not likely that most of the audience will have noticed or been able to see the distant figure, head in hands, as his story was shared with the world but those closer might have been able to glimpse what looked like a pretty big moment for him.

 David is not alone and the housing crisis affects all of us in one way or another but I’m not sure how many of us would be willing to lay our lives out there to the world to support the campaign.

Perhaps if more of our politicians showed the energy and commitment David has to Homes for Britain we’d be closer to seeing the end of the housing crisis.