The homeless population face almost impossible conditions just to try to survive: going hungry, cold, and living all alone on the streets under precarious conditions. But sometimes, those who have nothing are the most willing to give the little they have when it’s needed.
Charlotte Ellis and boyfriend Taylor were returning home from a night out in Covent Garden, London, when they reached the train station and realized the gates were closed.
Somehow, they had lost track of time while being out having fun. As a result, they couldn’t get home. The station wouldn’t open again for four hours – which meant they were stuck in the freezing cold weather, with nowhere to take shelter. That's when an unlikely person came to their rescue.
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He offered them his coat
Noticing their distress, a homeless man approached Charlotte and said: "You can borrow my coat and duvet if you want? It's a long wait and it's freezing tonight."
Charlotte instantly accepted and jumped under the duvet, but Taylor wasn’t so sure. After spending some time sitting with the man, who was named Joey, she decided that since he came to her rescue, she had to come to his too.
No one deserves to be out in these conditions. I'm not saying that you should trust everyone you meet on a street corner, but who exactly should you trust?
Charlotte Ellis in Mirror UK
So Charlotte asked him to come home with them
"I told Joey that I refused to leave without him - at first he declined in dismay at the offer of coming back home with my boyfriend and I to have a good night kip, a shower and shave and a good old meal," Charlotte continued.
"He thought I was joking. I really wasn't.
It took Taylor to explain, 'if you don't come with us I'm not going to get her home' and Joey finally accepted.
Charlotte Ellis
The couple ended up getting in a taxi and took Joey back to Charlotte's home in Billericay, Essex, where they "talked for hours, exchanged life stories and instantly became the best of friends."
Joey even offered Taylor the coat he was wearing as thanks for their hospitality.
A decision she doesn't regret
Charlotte was initially worried her mom would be "fuming" about her bringing a stranger back, but "as soon as she met him she understood why we had done what we had done. I knew she would understand."
All my friends and family initially thought we were crazy and thought the worst.
"After we introduced them to Joey they all loved him instantly because he is honestly such a genuine guy," Charlotte continued.
Taylor and his girlfriend made sure Joey was taken care of, especially since he had lived in very difficult conditions. "We have taken him for Indian [food], we have had his hair cut, we give (sic) him a phone, my friends give him a new wardrobe, they go play football, watch Django, the boys play playstation, he helps my mum feed the horses, he has a roast dinner!" Charlotte said.
They helped Joey turn his life around
Charlotte also shared that things are looking up for Joey. Shortly after they met, he lined up a job interview and got a job. And now they are friends that are there for each other.
"We treat him as we would treat anyone else,"
Charlotte said.
We have faith in him, we help him. But more importantly we give him our time and friendship.
Charlotte has one lasting powerful message:
"Just because someone is "homeless" it doesn't make them any less of a person than me or you and it doesn't mean that all 'homeless' people are drug or alcohol abusers, not all homeless people should be instantly tarnished as bad people. They are just like me and you."
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