A 52-year-old homeless man in Birmingham, known as Nigel, has been evicted from a clothes bank where he had been living for five weeks. Nigel, who had found refuge in the clothes bank in Erdington, described it as the “comfiest bed” he had ever slept in, but complaints from locals led to his removal.
Nigel, a recovering heroin addict, found himself homeless after leaving a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) where he was living with drink and drug users. To avoid relapsing, he decided to leave and live on the streets.
Complaints Lead to Eviction
Despite Nigel’s attempts to find comfort in the unlocked clothes bank, local complaints from members of a nearby church and school led to his eviction. According to reports, the charity bin has now been relocated to prevent any further use by rough sleepers.
A worker at the parish centre told Mail Online: “He should never have been there in the first place, and there have been lots of complaints. He was not wanted. Plus, the clothes bank is on private land.”
The worker confirmed the bin is no longer in use and has been moved to another location.
Nigel’s Life Inside the Clothes Bank
Before his eviction, Nigel shared his experiences of living inside the clothes bank in an interview with Birmz is Grime, giving a tour of his makeshift home. He described it as warm, waterproof, and more comfortable than any bed he had ever slept in. He jokingly mentioned how he had a “library” and a “beer shelf” inside.
“I’ve been living in the clothes bin for four or five weeks. It’s warm inside and waterproof. It’s more comfortable than any bed I’ve ever had. If someone put clothes in while I was inside, I’d probably say ‘thank you’ and they’d be shocked to hear the bin talking,” Nigel said.
Future Hopes and Setting Up a Charity
Despite the challenges he has faced, Nigel is determined to turn his life around. He expressed his desire to set up a charity to help homeless people, as well as those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.
“I’m trying to get into a home in Coventry, and once I do, I want to set up a charity to help the homeless and needy. I’ve been thinking about it for 30 years,” he explained.
Nigel hopes his charity will provide support to others who have experienced the same struggles he has, and he already has three trustees lined up to help him in his mission.
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