Homeless people discuss the difficult conditions they face on the streets and the ‘lifeline’ organization that is providing assistance.
As they describe the terrible reality of surviving on the streets, Doorways has been lauded as a “lifeline” for the homeless community.
“I’m going to die,” he said. These are the heartbreaking remarks of a man who lives on Teesside’s streets as a homeless person.
And as the colder nights approach, homeless individuals are already dreading the upcoming chilly months and wondering how they would manage living outside. But some homeless persons in Middlesbrough claim they now have a “positive attitude” thanks to a brand-new charity facility named Doorways on Princes Road.
It’s already been branded a “lifeline” by those who use it – with dedicated staff even coughing up the coins themselves to get it off the ground. Run by management duo Aimee Baker and Jess Dunn, Doorways is a non-profit charity that runs from the former Neighbourhood Welfare Hub.
Since there is no door policy, everyone is welcome to come to the hub three days a week for “nutritious, homemade, and filling food.” This includes the homeless, students, veterans, and elderly. We received the keys in June and opened up last Monday, according to Aimee from Roseworth.
Staff were “paying out of their own pockets” when they first set up the charity in a Union Street church, buying food to fill packed lunches to help those in need. The mum-of-four, who has worked at the Princes Road venue since 2018, said that when the former hub closed, she couldn’t just give up.
“I just wanted to help people. These people become family to you – we just wanted to keep it going.”
‘People have kicked me, spat at me, and called me a tramp’
Teesside Live visited the cafe this week and was able to speak to both customers and staff, hearing stories of just how much the venue is making a difference in their lives so soon after launching. However, they also honestly and openly spoke of the harsh reality of living on the streets.
There, we spoke with Brian, who is currently homeless. But that didn’t stop him from giving a helping hand to refurbish the site before it reopened. The 52-year-old said: “I found out about this place through the church.
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