He was inspired by the tragic loss of a close friend
Andy Owens opened the trailers earlier this month(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
For years, Andy Owens, 36, had plied his trade as a professional footballer, playing for Liverpool’s academy before embarking on a career across the English Football League. But now, he has taken matters into his own hands as he tries to provide a “temporary solution” to the city’s homeless crisis after being inspired by the tragic loss of a close friend.
Working as a builder while maintaining his football career at lower league teams across the north of England, Andy has also set up his own building firm in recent years and has even run a popular YouTube channel where he has documented his latest jobs.
However, as I speak to Andy, it’s clear that he sees his building jobs and renovations as more than just a way for him to earn a living. He says that he has always had a deep desire to help people. He told the ECHO: “Everyone in the world has to help people, whether it’s your job or not; we’re on this earth to help each other.”
Andy Owens was previously in Liverpool’s academy (Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
That desire to help people was encapsulated never more so than when he took on John Simpson, who had been homeless for a large portion of his adult life. Meeting him by chance when he was working on a job, John, or Simmo as he was better known by Andy and his friends, became a focal part of his Bowden Builders CIC (Community Interest Company) YouTube channel as well as helping out across various building roles for Andy.
Sadly, towards the end of last year, Andy broke the tragic news to his YouTube subscribers that Simmo had died at the age of 64. However, tapping into his innate sense of wanting to help others, Andy wanted to make sure that Simmo’s death wasn’t in vain.
He has fitted the shelter out with two beds(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Looking back to a few weeks ago when the cold winter mornings were becoming ever more frequent, Andy took it upon himself to try and provide a “temporary fix” for those suffering with the wintry conditions most. He said: “I basically woke up one morning, and my van was completely frozen. I was trying to do work, and my fingers were completely freezing, and it just reminded me of Simmo, and I just thought, ‘There’s a bigger picture here.”
On November 21, Andy drove one of his vans to Ivanhoe Road in the south of the city and parked a trailer filled with two beds for any rough sleepers in the area to use at their discretion. Since posting about the homeless sleeping shelters, Andy says he has been “overwhelmed” by the reaction to them on social media.
He said: “What was amazing was the response; I wasn’t expecting to get as many messages and supporters as we have. It’s definitely overwhelming because we’re a CIC, so you know we are a charity that uses YouTube money to do that, but we’re not a fully fledged homeless charity. So a lot of the messages and support, people asking to donate money, I’m like, ‘Look, there are other companies and other charities who do this full-time; it’s their job. They’re better suited than us to take donations.’
Andy was inspired to open the shelters after the passing of his friend(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
He added: “So all I want to do is put this trailer out there, and if someone uses it, amazing. It’s a band-aid; it’s a temporary fix; it’s not a long-term fix for someone who’s homeless. If it saves someone’s life, then for me, it’s worth doing.”
In response to Andy’s homeless sleeping shelters, a Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the containers and have reached out to the building company that has placed them there. The Council has a response team to ensure there are always appropriate solutions to rough sleeping, and we encourage people to work with this service, delivered by The Whitechapel Centre, who have over 50 years of expertise.
“Anyone can make a referral at liverpool.gov.uk/alwayshelpavailable. They can also be contacted on 0300 123 2041.
“Our outreach services have extensive experience in supporting people who find themselves sleeping rough, including helping those with complex needs who require specialist assistance to get their lives back on track.”