The New Year has begun, the time for new beginnings for some, but not for Wren Jordon, 35 year old homeless man who sleeps on the cold streets of Ilford. 

'I have been on the streets for over 2 years now and its been very hard,' said the tearful man. Wren Jordon was forced to leave his home when he was not able to pay the rent as he had become redundant in 2014 and had not been able to find a job since. 'Life on the streets is very difficult, I have been in many fights, I have been stabbed by people on drugs in the middle of the night and I have had the money I got from begging stolen from me, i wouldn't wish this life upon my worst enemy.'

In 2016 Wren was stabbed 3 times in the leg and once in his shoulder at about 2am. As there was no one around to help him he made his own way to the hospital which was around 1 mile away from where he was sleeping for the night. He almost died that night. 'I was all alone, I thought that was the end. Part of me wanted to die and be at peace but I knew it wasn't time for me to go yet, I had promised my children, who moved away with their mother, that I would get my life together.' 

Wren Jordon is only one of hundreds of homeless people in Redbridge.Their lives are made harder by people who look down at them, insult them and mentally and physically abuse them. It is now 2018 and still people are treated differently by the amount of money they have. It is time for change!

Daneet Sanghera.