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Homeless dad cries himself to sleep every night in car as he prepares for Christmas alone

Home> Community

Updated 15:08 23 Dec 2022 GMTPublished 13:28 23 Dec 2022 GMT

Homeless dad cries himself to sleep every night in car as he prepares for Christmas alone

The former chef is at his lowest point and has been sleeping in his car for 10 weeks

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

A dad is preparing to spend Christmas in his car after hitting rock bottom.

Shane Blackwell has a five-year-old son and used to work as a chef, but he had to quit due to his PTSD.

The 39-year-old is from London, but now lives in the West Midlands where he has no connections. And while friends have tried to help, Shane said he is too proud to accept.

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As such, he's spent the past 10 weeks getting whatever sleep he can in his small car - which was particularly rough during the recent cold snap.

Shane said he's reached his lowest point.
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"It's a bit horrible. I can't lie down in it," he said.

"If I was to sleep I'd be sitting up but I do struggle to sleep quite a lot. I've been getting sleeping tablets but they've not really been helping.

"I've managed to survive in -7C, which is the coldest it's been. I'm still okay, I'm not ill which is surprising. I've kept the car running as much as possible but I don't know how much longer I can do it."

Reluctant to encroach on other people's Christmases, he's accepted his will be one to forget.

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"I'm gonna be there on Christmas, there's no choice about it," he said.

"I'm gutted. I'm not gonna be a man about it. I cry every night.

"This Christmas is gonna be really weird. Normally I would have my son but because of the situation I can't have him so it's gonna be a really rubbish day."

For the time being, Shane has been getting help from Salma Food Bank in Smethwick, so he at least has something to eat, and he's in the process of trying to set up benefits for the new year.

He's been relying upon the food bank.
BPM Media

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He said: "I'm speaking to the council, trying to get some benefits. I don't get any benefits and if I do it's not gonna be until 18 January. I'm not classed as a priority, no matter what council I go to.

"When I got some money from work I spent it on some bits for the car and putting fuel in and that's all I could afford.

"I've just signed up for Universal Credit."

He added: "I've got friends who want to help me but I'm too proud of myself.

"They have families, I don't want to be part of them thinking 'oh my god, we've got to have him here' and all of that, even though they probably wouldn't think that. But that's my way of thinking.

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"I've got my space in my car and that's how it'll be until I can get some help."

Featured Image Credit: BPM Media

Topics: Christmas

Jake Massey
Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

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@jakesmassey

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