Carl

Featured Video Play Icon

I was shocked when I first heard Carl’s accent. Carl is from Iowa. He is an American, and he is sleeping rough on the streets of London.

How does an American end up homeless in London? Carl was visiting some friends when all kinds of madness happened. He ended spending all the money he had, including funds to pay for travel home. Carl says the U.S. Embassy offered no help. The U.S, Embassy has programs for people who have lost their passport and such, yet there is no assistance for people who are broke and just want to return home.

I find this story very interesting. As we learned from Edwards story people from Romania cannot get benefits in the UK. Well, neither can someone from the U.S.. Before you get all upset, we do the same thing. When a person is not a U.S. citizen it’s extremely hard to find them support services. Both Carl and Edward cannot get a housing benefit (shelter) nor can they get any welfare assistance. That means they are left to beg to survive. Carl told me that his biggest challenge isn’t the cold, it’s that most public facilities in the U.K. are pay toilets.

Carl was able to find a refuge charity to help him get a ticket home, but that’s going to take a few days, and until then – – he’s out sleeping rough in the freezing cold. I am still trying to wrap my mind on an American being classified as a refuge. I mean, it makes perfect sense from an international perspective, but still very surreal.


Invisible People

Invisible People

           

We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Until then, we strive to be the most trusted source for homelessness.

Related Topics




Get the Invisible People newsletter


RECENT STORIES

80-year-old Woman Homeless in Sad Diego

Miss Katie

Homeless man, in Manchester, New Hampshire, freezing from the cold weather

Giancarlo

A 65-Year-Old's Story of Homelessness in Manchester, New Hampshire

Pablo

Single Dad with Four Kids Homeless in a Hotel Room

Kevin and his four children


RECENT ARTICLES

Family denied Affordable Housing, Georgia opts fo rFoster Care

Affordable Housing Denied: Georgia’s Expensive Preference for Foster Care

Treating mental health crisis - treatment not trauma program

What If There Were No Mental Health Crises?

NYC Shelter System Fails in Wake of Migrant Crisis

NYC Shelter System Fails in Wake of Migrant Crisis

homeless woman resting in Miami park in Florida

Florida Passes Public Camping Ban as Homelessness Increases

Get the Invisible People newsletter