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.
Advert
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.
"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.
"I'm gonna be there on Christmas, there's no choice about it," he said.
Advert
"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 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.
Advert
"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.
"I've got my space in my car and that's how it'll be until I can get some help."
Topics: Christmas
Jake Massey