EMMAUS has given me a purpose, stability and shelter. Jonathan E tells how he came to Emmaus “I was born in Birmingham but when I was 10 years old my parents decided to move to Portugal, mainly because of the better climate. I went to school there and picked up the language very quickly and when I was 17 started working for my father‟s export/import company. After working for my father for 7 years I decided that I wanted to pursue another career so I left home and moved down the Portuguese coastline to manage an Off Licence. I was happy and really enjoyed working there. Things were going really well despite the winters in Portugal being a tough time because Tourism is low then and business is very bad. My boss said if I worked well and didn't mess him around he would keep me employed for the winter months, because I was a really good worker and never complained about working between 12 and 16 hours a day. On my 26th birthday in September I was out partying with friends and they introduced me to Cocaine. Despite having been warned several times that drugs ruin peoples‟ lives and can kill you, I continued to take more and more Cocaine. One day I was so desperate I started stealing from the till and selling alcohol and cigarettes from where I was working. My Boss sacked me and within 2 weeks I had run out of money and couldn't pay the rent on my flat. With no money and nowhere to live my father gave me money to leave Portugal and I left in December 2008 to start a new life in England. Things were tough in winter as I had no money or connections in London and I was living on the street. It was very difficult. One evening in March I was approached by an Irish Travelling family who asked me if I was looking for work and said that they would pay me 40 pounds a day along with accommodation. I knew Travellers could be trouble, but they were very persuasive so I reluctantly accepted. I was unhappy at first but after I gained their trust they began to accept me as one of the family which made me very happy But after 2 months of not being paid and being treated like a slave and being physically beaten up if things weren't done quickly enough, I decided enough was enough,‟ and fled from their site to Brighton where someone told me about an organisation called Emmaus which helped homeless people. I had applied at the local housing trust but I was told there was a waiting list - so until I got word from Emmaus I was on my own. I was on the streets for about 2 and a half months. It seemed like a life time but I was learning to live with it and beg enough money for food. Emmaus has helped me look at myself. It's given me a purpose, stability and shelter. Before I came here I never quite knew where I was staying for a night, where I could go. It's given me back some control of my life. I've realised that I need to ask for help when I need it. I've built up a trusting relationship with the guys here. They know whether I'm really all right or not. Sometimes I feel it's quite an honour to be involved in a world wide movement. When things flourish it's got to be a good thing. It's helped me flourish as well and I hope to be here for a long time.”