For this issue, we spoke to Kerri Douglas, a powerful voice for people experiencing homelessness, a published author, and a sought-after speaker.

For 11 years, Kerri endured the hardships of homelessness. During that time, she was arrested and imprisoned under the Vagrancy Act of 1824, which meant people could be prosecuted simply for rough sleeping or begging. She describes this as deeply unjust, and it inspired her to campaign against the criminalisation of homelessness.

This year, the UK Government officially repealed the Vagrancy Act, a landmark moment credited in part to Kerri’s tireless campaigning.

We’re incredibly grateful that Kerri has shared her story with us. It reminds us that there is always hope for a different future.

Looking back, how did addiction and homelessness become connected in your life? Was there a particular turning point, or did one gradually lead to the other?

Although I was sleeping rough from the age of 13 and had been introduced to crack, I wasn’t addicted until I was 19. When my son was taken into care, addiction became my way of masking the pain.

What do people commonly misunderstand about addiction?

Addiction is often the mask of trauma. It isn’t just about getting wasted; it’s about blocking out pain, rejection, and abandonment.

How did addiction affect your day-to-day life while you were homeless?

In a strange way, it actually helped me. The one thing that was slowly killing me was also the thing that kept me alive. It motivated me to keep going.

What made it so difficult to move forward and begin rebuilding your life?

Trust was my biggest barrier. I’d been let down by so many people that I didn’t trust anyone enough to accept help.

What’s the best way someone can help if they meet a person sleeping rough?

Stop and talk. Buy them a coffee or something to eat, but let them choose. Sometimes being treated like a human being matters just as much as the help itself.

If every reader remembered just one thing about homelessness and addiction, what would you want it to be?

People experiencing homelessness have so much more to their story than addiction.

Thank you Kerri for sharing your story.

Kerri shares updates and insights on LinkedIn.