'Where is housing for people like me?'

Exasperation at lack of progress on homelessness

- AINE FOX

A FORMER construction worker who helped build luxury flats but ended up on the streets said he is disappointed a political pledge to end rough sleeping is on course to fail.

Paul McLoughlin, from Salford, said he spent more than two years sleeping rough and sofa-surfing at a friend's when he could - describing the experience as "soul-destroying".

The 53-year-old, who is now in supported accommodation in Manchester and acts as a voluntary mentor to others, said things spiralled after he was laid off from his job working on concrete when the project he was part of finished.

He said he ended up losing his home when he fell into arrears and struggled without a support network which led to him sleeping on the streets. The father-of-two said he took drugs while sleeping rough as an "escape from reality" and became suicidal.