Filmmaker Gary Johnston sleeps rough to taste homeless life

Filmmaker Gary Johnston sleeps rough to taste homeless life

Rochdale film maker Gary Johnston has spoken of his horror after spending five nights 'homeless' to get a taste of life on the streets.

The Kirkholt man took his camera equipment and braved the cold in the hope of getting a “real taste of homeless life” and raising awareness of a growing problem in modern society.

Despite being attacked and verbally abused, Gary continued his quest and made a film to show just how much people are struggling in the deprived subcultures which he says are being shunned by the authorities.

Gary’s film, called Human Garbage, gives various homeless people a voice and a chance to share their stories, many of which connect with broken marriages.

One homeless man said: “Some people when they walk past, it’s the look that they give you, it just makes you feel so bad. They don’t have to say anything, it’s just that look.

“I want them to understand that two weeks ago I wasn’t here. I don’t take drugs and I don’t drink, I’m here because of my circumstances and it could happen to anybody. ”

A young woman who has been on the streets for several months said that she is treated like “scum”. She added: “It’s like we are a waste of space on this planet.”

Gary said: “It was tough, I was attacked one night by a man who thought I was a journalist, and in general it was a real struggle.

“These people need a voice, they need help. So many of them are here because a relationship broke down and they lost their house, it’s not the druggie story people think.”

In part of the film, he said: “Here we are in the 21st century, where we still have homeless on our streets. I think everyone agrees that in an ideal world we should be able to provide security for those claiming asylum.

“However, at what point should our government draw the line to put our own garden in order first?”

He added: “Another thing I really wanted to know was how dangerous it is to be homeless and how homeless people are treated by the public.”

Gary also dedicated part of his time on the canals in the Manchester area, trying to find the “Manchester pusher” after a spate of unexplained deaths in the area.

To view Human Garbage, visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK1208fmBVE&feature=youtu.be