Homelessness: Chesterfield Documentary 2023

More than 227,000 people are homeless in the UK, one of the wealthiest countries in the world. While Jason mourns his mother's death, he worries about relapsing. Gordon and Iona are battling through heroin addiction and waiting to be re-housed. This story shares the sad reality of people sleeping rough in a small town like Chesterfield, while struggling with drug abuse, crime and loneliness. During the current cost of living crisis, there is a risk that more people will sleep rough for the first time and be forced to live under these circumstances.
A story of -
Gordan and Iona
Jason Jabuski
Johnny Haystead
Directed by - Shreya Jha
Editor - Brandan Lansbury
Producer - Shreya Jha & Brandan Lansbury
Thanks to -
Toyin Taiwo - Grace's chapel
Police - Derbyshire County
Shreya Jha - / shreyayayayayy
Brandan Lansbury - / brandan.l1 / seprahstudios

[@vanshikabhatnagar3739]

“we don’t use crack to get high, we use it to feel normal” - it is so incredibly easy to have opinions and judgements on the homeless people we see around us - this doc gives us an insight into their tumultuous lives and their inescapable maze of problems - it makes us think twice. thank you for having the patience and compassion to share their stories and bring to light such a pressing issue in the UK. i hope it reaches more people. as for some critique - i wish you would’ve gotten into their lives a bit deeper though. like when johnny had his accident - was it possible to go to the hospital? i would’ve liked to have been showed their lives a bit more than being told about it - if privacy was an issue i totally understand. but all in all - kudos to the effort and empathy put into this film. congratulations you both. :)

[@karenparikh4045]

Can’t believe I used to go to school there in the late 70’s/early 80’s. I honestly don’t remember all these drugs back then

[@crimsoneffix3171]

That was awesome. I wish it was longer but very well done!!👍👍🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@PeakTVChesterfield]

A great piece of work.

[@DaveyStraker]

There are many charitable places in and around Chesterfield that welcome those on the street. These places have a zero tolerance on alcohol and illegal drugs. This is a great opportunity for those that want to get back on track with a view of living independently and finding work. Sadly, not all those that class themselves as homeless welcome this option, as they don't want to give up the drink and drugs.

[@beepthesheep867]

Exactly. There is plenty of opportunity offered to them. More than they deserve. Everything they need, including having their debts paid off for them, food and further accommodation. They turn it down! It's totally self-inflicted. They know exactly what they are doing. I have zero sympathy for them. Anyone that does is only being played by them. Don't believe a single word from their lying mouths. They wouldn't think twice about stealing from their own mothers and given the opportunity will absolutely steal from YOU too. They put themselves in the situation they are in. They had good homes. They destroyed them and left total destruction for the landlords and everyone in their community to deal with. Why, because they think they are special and the rules everyone else have to follow dont apply to them. They spent all their money on drugs and alcohol and have zero respect for anything and anyone other than themselves. Then the debt collectors come knocking, and they run. They move on to their next victim. Don't even believe they are homeless. They have a tenancy and using it to collect their benefits. Every penny of which is spent purely on drugs. They play games with the charities and councils trying to deal with them. They know that they will eventually get everything written off and will simply start again. In the meantime, they are stealing and selling on goods from stores, breaking into your property, and doing the same. Dirty using scum of the earth! How do I know? ...exerperience of them has taught me everything!

[@antonw4671]

you cant help them they need to help themselfs if they didnt spend all the money on drugs they would be ok.

[@quackib]

Well done on bringing these sad stories to light. Great doc, proud of you guys 💜

[@shreyajha1566]

Thank you so much Aqib! Really appreciate it mate ❤️

[@maddiemason3063]

Thank you for shedding some light on this huge issue 💜

[@srishtihota7020]

Thank you for making an informative documentary about such an important issue!

[@jamiematthews1216]

Fantastic piece of work, im from chesterfield too

[@nicolepowell3121]

This is a fantastic little piece of work. I’m in Australia and can tell you it’s a very similar situation for homeless people here. Squatting ain’t what it used to be and the homeless ‘community’ just isn’t there for some folk. It’s maddening to see that you can be on the other side of the planet and issues are exactly the same. To the creator: just wanted to let you know I turned on subs and could read a lot more than I could hear of people talking, between the two, I managed to get a god feel for what was being said, but you need to check your sound levels, there’s a LOT that I could only read as a subtitle and people will be missing out on your awesome work.

[@shreyajha1566]

Heyya, thank you so much for sharing your feedback! We did at some points use a Zoom H6 but because the style of shooting was quite run and gun it was hard to sometimes set everything up hence we put the subtitles but that’s definitely something to improve with the next piece of work. Thank you for giving your honest feedback, I really appreciate it! It’s truly sad that the homelessness problem remains the same across the globe.

[@nicolepowell3121]

@@shreyajha1566 thanks again for your heartfelt work with a lot of honest insight. Good on you for getting out there and talking with the REAL people affected by this scourge. Love your work. ✊🏻✌🏻

[@beepthesheep867]

​@shreyajha1566 your film makes my blood boil. They lied to you and you are a fool to believe them. There is plenty of help waiting for them. Everything! ...They reject it! They would rather destroy everything and everyone they come into contact with. Have zero sympathy for them. They know exactly what they are doing. They lie lie lie lie lie and take take take take take take. It's all they know and do. They will never give back to the community from whom they are stealing from. They have a tenancy to collect their benefits from. They simply claim not to be living there. I feel more sorry for the dog they abandoned in that home. The RSPCA final gained entry with a court order and that dog is safe from their negligent harm now. They are playing you and everyone around them. Absolute scum... I wish them nothing. I pray for all those innocent people that come into contact with them.

[@jimmydickson8854]

Britain is going down hill as a young man back in 19-74 I seen the writing on the wall then so I got out and Emigrated to Australia all good

[@srishtihota7020]

Great work, Shreya and Brandan!

[@srishtihota7020]

You have come so far, Shreya! Soo proud 🫶🏽

[@davinaljones1533]

Well done on such an important subject wish the film was longer and wish all the people in the video help and support soon 👍

[@beepthesheep867]

You are delusional. They played you.

[@patriciarowe6685]

If I had stayed in the UK that would have been me 100 %. Sending love to all the homless.

[@wontbelongnow5567]

Our government can find houses for 5000 immigrants every week but can't help english people who was born in England.

[@beepthesheep867]

Oh our government will absolutely help them. They turn it down! They are playing the system. They are playing you. They are playing everyone around them. They can have everything. You owe them nothing. All they need to do is take the opportunity offered to them. They will have a tenancy somewhere and use it to collect their benefits. They are interested in one thing and one thing only... their drug and alcoholic fueled, self-serving, selfish, self righteous ways. Call them for what they are. Have zero sympathy for them and don't fall for their lying, scheming ways. How do I know? ... experience taught me everything!

[@Hybrid10Prime_Creative]

I came across this through a Tiktok ad and was instantly interested. Thank you for creating it

[@shreyajha1566]

Thank you so much for taking the time watching the documentary! Really appreciate it :)

[@harlzter69]

Crazy when you see people you know in a video like this. Hits kind of close to home.

[@b54321ish]

You are not priority unless you arrive by dinghy !!

[@codzy3532]

well karmas come back on england for being racist an nasty hearted what goes around

[@forestdad]

Not the place for your racism

[@patriciarowe6685]

​@@codzy3532F%// off with all that karna crap.

[@karenparikh4045]

@@codzy3532well put. I faced racism every day when I lived there

[@bennyboy2079]

Moron ...we take less immigrants than any other EU country ! The worlds in a bad state , you cant where your born wouldnt you do the same ! Dont judge stop reading the sun newspaper lol your next moment ain't promised

[@purvy1015]

Johnny Haystead isn’t someone to feel sorry for. He’s a psychopath at best

[@gavhinds8190]

My home town..I hope these guys get the help they need..what a shit system we have.

[@lesliearadi3747]

Where do we put the homeless? There is not enough accommodation for them all unless you are deemed to be an asylum claimant who arrived here illegally

[@tarat26]

They have an interesting concept in Japan, with 24/7 Internet pods. People pay to use the pods to sleep in, use the computer etc and stay in the warm and off the steer at night. Some workers that cannot afford to rent, live in them, stay clean, sleep and are warm and given the privacy etc to be able to get changed for work, earn a wage and stay safe etc. It's a cheap way to get, indoors out of the cold when you cannot afford it hotel etc. Thee isn't a bed, but a couple of comfy reclining gaming chair and privacy. I've used them before when I was traveling and ran out of money travelling.

[@livelyone8192]

No EXCUSE, I'm from DERBY came to Chesterfield 7y ago was homeless but know got a flat, if you want it the helps there get of your ASS and do SUMAT there's still some that are still on the streets when I was or some who,s had a place n let drug dealers sell from there and lost it!!

[@lisawalsh6891]

It's scary how many people are sleeping rough in chesterfield now. My daughter & I don't give them money but buy food & drink for them. One man down near B&M has a dog with him so we tend to buy him stuff for the dog as well. My only concern was that one man seemed to be angry for him being there & it looked to us as though he was taking money & other stuff from then when people had given him stuff. Kind of like he was in charge of whom sat where down there

[@PhillipplaistedPlaisted-qu7nc]

If i was them i wouldn't care about being homless i would find different spots at night to sleep and do some begging every day and go to homless day center for dinner and lunch its more of a easy way to live when you think about it

[@PhillipplaistedPlaisted-qu7nc]

When you actually think about homless is easy you don't to pay bills or tax and get free dinner and lunch from day center don't have the stresses like everyone else does

[@simmondsbugge2168]

Promo-SM 🎶