Films / Feature documentarySurviving Homeless
Paul Suggitt spent six weeks living on the streets of Middlesbrough and Hartlepool during the pandemic to film what homelessness is really like.
- Director
- Paul Suggitt
- Released
- June 2021
- Runtime
- 68 min
- Production
- FatCat Media
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About the film
In 2021 Paul left home and spent six weeks sleeping rough on the streets of Middlesbrough and Hartlepool. Lockdown had emptied the town centres, and the people who would normally stop and buy someone a hot drink weren't there. Charities were reporting record numbers asking for help with food, clothing and somewhere to stay.
The film covers what he found: turf wars, violence between homeless people and towards them, the reactions of the public, and the day-to-day routines people use to get by. Most of it is told by the people living it. Everyone featured was given support to find accommodation away from the cameras.
Surviving Homeless won Best Documentary Feature and Best Director at Accord Cine Fest in May 2021, and had a global gala screening at Tees Valley International Film Festival.
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