When talking about someone who is homeless, what is the first image that comes to mind? Many people will not dare to admit it, but the stigma attached to homelessness is still the smelly man walking around town with all his stuff and begging for money. However, this stigma is not correct at all. At Springplank, we see a lot of different people come in who all have their own story and they are just like you and me. To give an example, we would like to introduce Davison. He has been homeless for ten years. That is, he has been able to stay within his own network and so has had a roof over his head, but has not had the option of his own home. “I do have a place to sleep and just look normal, so I don't meet the stigma of homelessness at all,” he says. said Davison. Davison has now been on the Springplank Foundation's pathway for six months.
“I wanted to help others and eventually I needed help myself.”
Davison says he had his own home for a while and also lived together. He ended up living with some of his friends because he was eager to help them. He assumed that his friends would help pay the rent and therefore he would have to work less. However, this turned out not to be the case, after which they were evicted. A few years later, he met a friend who wanted to help and he still lives there today.
“I need growth to stay stimulated and motivated.”
He finished his mavo neatly and then started an education, but this was not what he was looking for. After trying several courses, he started working. Here too, he missed the challenge and lost his motivation after many different jobs. “It has to be scary for me and I have to feel the excitement.” says Davison himself.
“I love my freedom.”
Davison explains that he has not experienced homelessness as unpleasant: “I am a positive person, so I do not see my homeless situation as pathetic, but as a valuable time where I was able to experience and learn a lot.” But now he does need freedom in a place of his own in the future and financial freedom so that he can explore things and be himself.
“Springplank is my stick”
Pride did stand in the way a bit for the first decade when it came to Davison's request for help, but now he is about to break old patterns and take new steps, together with Springplank. “A welding course has been requested for me because I would like to do something with my hands. I like creativity, in any form.”
