Friday 13 July 2012

Interview with Louise Mallarkey by PoliticsUK
About her years of homelessness

At 9:30 on Thursday 12 July we interviewed Louise Mallarkey. A regular reader and contributor to the PUK community. She found herself in a long period of being homeless in her late teens. I thank her for sharing her insights into homelessness.

Photo: At 9:30 we will begin an interview with Louise Mallarkey. A regular reader and contributor to the PUK community. She found herself in a long period of being homeless in her late teens and has agreed to talk about this period with us. Please give her a warm welcome to the page and I thank her for sharing her insights into homelessness. All information shared will be reblogged on the PoliticsUK BigSleepOut 2012 blog. http://pukbigsleepout2012.blogspot.co.uk/



    • Politics UK Hello everybody. I would like to welcome Louise Mullarkey to our Q&A session on PoliticsUK
      Wednesday at 21:31 ·

    • Politics UK Hello Louise :P
      Wednesday at 21:31 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey Hi Richard :-)
      Wednesday at 21:32 ·  · 1

    • Politics UK For those who do not know how this Q&A's run we as a page will ask a series of questions which have been pre-collected from our contributors and then at the end if we have time will allow a couple of sensible questions from others if Louise is happy to do this. Louise are you happy to begin ?
      Wednesday at 21:33 ·  · 1

    • Louise Mullarkey Yes very, fire away :-)
      Wednesday at 21:34 ·  · 1

    • Politics UK First of I would like to take you back to before you became homeless. I understand you had a period of homelessness that began when you were 15 and lasted around 3 years? How did this happen?
      Wednesday at 21:35 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey Well I grew up with mum, dad and two younger brothers. My father was often violent towards my mum, and being the eldest and of an age I knew what was going on, I took on all the hurt of what I was seeing alone. I then found out at 11 my dad was not my biological father. I resented him even more once I knew. When he and my mum finally split (or should I say she finally had courage to leave) he took my brothers and me and mum went to a hostel. My mother had depression and alcohol problems and I found I was happier away from home. I was a pretty nightmare teen, my mum was in no state to cope and due to arguments threw me out
      Wednesday at 21:41 ·  · 1

    • Politics UK So from reading the above you did not have the family structure there to support you. You were chucked out or left?
      Wednesday at 21:42 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey I was chucked out, and ended up befriending some older people with drink and drug issues. I guess at the time, crashing at party houses seemed a better option than being at home.
      Wednesday at 21:45 ·  · 1

    • Louise Mullarkey Thats when things spiralled out of control and I started sleeping out ANYWHERE
      Wednesday at 21:46 ·  · 1

    • Politics UK So is it fair to say that your first days being homeless were not on the streets?
      How did you react initially. What were your thoughts? Did you immediately seek support?
      Wednesday at 21:47 ·

    • Politics UK Also in conjunction with the question above. Were drugs part of your life before leaving the family home or part of the life after leaving home?
      Wednesday at 21:48 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey At first I managed to crash at other peoples houses, sometimes the most disgusting squats. Drink was my main problem at the start and Id wake up sometimes in churchyards, parks frozen to the core. I found my way to staying at an old alcoholics house where people went to drink or do drugs and met a heroin addict who I got pregnant to within a week of meeting him
      Wednesday at 21:51 ·  · 1

    • Louise Mullarkey You just adapt richard. And drink helped me cope with where I was staying
      Wednesday at 21:53 ·  · 1

    • Politics UK Would you say once being chucked out from home it was a quick spiral out of control?
      Were there any opportunities you felt being offered to you to get out of the trouble? Would you have been interested in help at that point?
      Wednesday at 21:53 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey Yes, very quick. I sought help and was put in various homeless hostels. But looking back they were just places where I met people deeper into drink and drugs than myself, and hangin out with the others in there took me down an even darker path


    • Wednesday at 21:56 ·

    • Politics UK You talk of a heroin addict who you got pregnant with. Did you remain with him throughout the period or lose contact?
      Did you form friendships?
      What were other homeless people like?
      Wednesday at 22:00 ·

    • Steve Badger Smith Hello Louise. I only just realised this was happening, shall have a look through and try ask dome decent questions. My own uncle had similar experienced with drink, drugs, and then life on the streets in London. It killed him at only 40 years old. This is a subject close to
      my own heart. I'm glad you have found the strength and ability to turn your life around.
      Wednesday at 22:00 ·  · 3

    • Politics UK Hi Steve - Appreciate your input. Can you ask your questions at the final stage. All questions valid and it sounds like you have a vlaid input to give. I am about half way through now the questions from contributors :)
      Wednesday at 22:05 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey Other homeless people were just the same as anyone else would be were they faced with what we were. Some had much worse reasons for being homeless than me. Some would rob you blind, some would be the most loyal people ever just looking and clinging on to a friend. But nearly all of them had traumatic pasts and drink and/ or drug issues. Myself and the addict ended up moving in together- my first stable home, having a baby. I thought my troubles were over I smoked weed and drank a little and he was a long term heroin addict. He promised he would stop but didnt. On the day u had our son he got diagnosed with terminal cancer. His sister took my son and bacause I couldnt cope in what was once my family home, I had a breakdown and just walked straight back into homelessness
      Wednesday at 22:06 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey It was during the stress of nursing a terminally ill man and a baby I got into crack and heroin
      Wednesday at 22:10 ·  · 1

    • Politics UK That is really sad. Do you have contact with your son?
      What was the second period of homelessnes like?
      Did you have any support offered to you from the state and was it enough?
      Wednesday at 22:10 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey I have only been clean for two years and it is currently going thru the courts to see my son. So Im getting there. The second period of homelessness was the worst- I had lost everything, I had nothing left to live for and met an amphetamine addict who "took me in." He got me into burglary as he is one of the most prolific criminals in lancashire. I NEVER did houses because it went against all my morals. But sheds and cars seemed kind of "better" because in my mind at that time I was brainwashed by him. He used to lock me in a room at his mums sometimes. Hed beat me up if I didnt watch out for him while he burgled people. The police soon got as much hatred fir me as him and I was in the cells most nights a week. I was taking between 20 and 40 quids worth of speed a day and injecting it. I told the police how I was being treat and that I wanted out of my situation, but they just used to laugh and bang me up again- just because I was with their main enemy
      Wednesday at 22:17 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey The world seemed against me- the authorities didnt care, I had nobody and nothing
      Wednesday at 22:19 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey Thank you steve, means a lot. Im so sorry for your loss. Its a hard road and it hurts me to know so many people dont come through it. I feel so lucky evety day to be where I am now :-) much love
      Wednesday at 22:22 ·

    • Politics UK Would you say drugs and alcohol fuelled your homelessness, were because of your homelessness or even assisted you in being homeless. In essence were they just part of life on the street you could not avoid or were they the reason for being there? What effect did they have on your existence?
      Wednesday at 22:23 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey They were what used to make sure I was so off my head I wouldnt have known whether I was homeless or taking the 9am train to alices tea-party! Without the drugs the cold hard reality of where I was at and what had happened with my son (my partners sister told a lot of lies and were very devious about getting my son from me and social services had believed it all because they knew of my PAST problems with drink and drugs.) I was very close to suicide- if someone sold me speed that smelt like it was mixed with Brasso- id inject it anyway. Ive even used kestrel super to turn it liquid on the spoon rather than water. I really did not care. I felt dead anyway. I then met the man im with now. We were homeless all winter 2005. We would kick doors of empty houses waiting for demolition and sleep in there. We used to huddle inside one coat or just walk the streets all night to keep warm.
      Wednesday at 22:31 ·

    • Politics UK Due to time I will start to wrap up.
      I understand that you have turned your life around now. How did you get out of homelessness?
      I also understand you now help others. Do you have some examples of this?
      Wednesday at 22:33 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey We managed to get a run down house with no bond and cheap rent. We were using drink and drugs and our relationship was extremely volatile. My partners mum then died and its safe to say thats when we hit that "rock bottom" people talk about. Then I found out I was pregnant. I knew I could NEVER go through the pain of having another child taken from me, and gave my partner the ultimatum of "im sorting my shit out for this child- are you in or out." He knew I was serious and it took a while but just as I was about to leave him he stepped up to the mark. We came off drugs almost instantly and sweated it out for four weeks. It was so hard but the cravings for drugs git weaker. During that time we saved and saved and got enough to move back to my hometown. We now have two beautiful babies, ellie 19 mth and harley 6 mth and still clean :-) loving every minute and soon to be married. We havent actually helped anyone yet we are just looking to channels and finding out where and how we CAN help at the moment. And hey, this is the first :-) my partner wants to find work supporting others with drug problems and Id like to support young mums/families comimg off drugs
      Wednesday at 22:44 ·  · 1

    • Louise Mullarkey Sorry about all the typos everyone :-)
      Wednesday at 22:45 ·

    • Politics UK Louise - I really appreciate the time you have given today and I hope that some of your answers have helped to address many of the preconceptions people have about being homeless.
      I will now open the floor to other people. Please if you can stick around and answer a few questions others may have. I apologise I have to drop off as I am having some connection issues (hence the delays).
      The thread is now open to others
      Wednesday at 22:47 ·  · 1

    • Politics UK Louise you were great and I think you have said some fantastic things for an excellent insight into a very painful part of life. I am sure it was not easy to share some of this and I hope that less and less people have to experience this in the future.
      Wednesday at 22:48 ·  · 2

    • Louise Mullarkey Connection problems too :-) but yes, thanks for listening
      Wednesday at 22:49 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey Sorry, that last post was babble, im half asleep. There needs to be MUCH better support for homeless people- its a dangerous and horrific and frightning place to be. So many people never find that first rungbof the ladder to get out of it- ad they have no help. Flamin government spend £4bn on a super train when there are people sleeping rough! Wrong, very wtong
      Wednesday at 22:55 ·  · 1

    • Louise Mullarkey ‎*wrong
      Wednesday at 22:56 ·

    • Sheena Weena Keep strong Louise...I take my hat off at your honesty and determination to succeed. You have been gifted with your beautiful children for a reason, and I'm sure you will make them terribly proud, as they will you. I wish you the very best of everything for your exciting and positive future. ♥
      Wednesday at 22:59 ·  · 3

    • Mandi Brooks Louise both I and my partner have worked in this area and experienced stories like yours. Sadly many people in the UK only possess a very narrow, media driven view of both homelessness and drug use and fail to realise the suffering many experience. I hope you can continue to develop the changes you and your partner have made and to inspire others. Thanks for sharing your story.
      Wednesday at 23:02 ·  · 2

    • Louise Mullarkey Thank you Sheena. Some people dont get that future because the support in some areas is so hard to access its awful. Going to the council and insted if support and advice you just get given phone numbers to ring that arent always freephone and sent away.
      Wednesday at 23:06 ·  · 2

    • Robin French Thank you for sharing your story, Louise. It's reassuring to see that people can go through such things and come out on the other side in such a positive way.
      Yesterday at 01:48 ·  · 2

    • Kathy M Johnson Thanks for sharing your story Louise, it will help to get the message out that young people in the same situation you found yourself in are not always getting the help and support they need.

      I wish you all the best for the future of you and your family.
      Yesterday at 08:32 ·  · 2

    • John Walsh see my BBC2 homeless documentaries: Sofa Surfers (BBC1) and Headhunting The Homeless (BBC2) here: http://www.walshbros.co.uk/
      Yesterday at 08:34 ·

    • Louise Mullarkey If there is anybody reading who feels they have any questions or want any advice you can inbox me at any time. It might not be possible to get back to you straight away but I promise to reply as soon as possible. Thank you for reading my story and thank you for your kind comments. Xxx much love to you all xx
      Yesterday at 10:43 ·  · 1

    • Sheena Weena You are an inspiration to many...keep hold of this wonderful vibe girl! Only 1 question from me, and that is...how do you feel about relaxed drug legislation in the UK? I know this is an awkward Q for you, but it brings many onto the streets to feed their habit surely? x
      21 hours ago ·
PoliticsUK is very thank you that Louise was happy and willing to talk of such a traumatic period of her life. We can do more to help people who are in the situation Louise found herself in.
People come from all walks of life and sadly fall through the net.
Please help.
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