In from the cold, Rui's story
As temperatures dropped below freezing in London in December, St Mungo's opened a severe weather emergency shelter. Over a hundred people stayed at the shelter in the first six days it was open.
One of the first people to come in from the cold on the shelter's first night was Rui. He had been sleeping rough for the last four months around the Angel Islington area of north London, near where the emergency shelter was based.
Rui is aged 30 and originally from Portugal. He was a painter and decorator for five years before coming to the UK to do specialist work in factories and on fruit and veg picking farms in Lincolnshire. He lived in a flat over a pub.
Unfortunately he lost his identity card and came to London to arrange a new one. But then he also found out he'd contracted hepatitis C and HIV and his life was turned upside down. Things quickly went downhill.
"I didn't go back after that. I stayed in London and have been in and out of hostels since. If it wasn't for this cold weather place, I don't know what I'd have done. You can't survive out there on the streets in this weather".
He said he'd recognised a few familiar faces among the other shelter residents,
"everyone has been getting on well with each other. The food is ok as well".
Working with fellow homeless organisation Crisis, the cold weather shelter remained open over Christmas. When we spoke, Rui was planning to stay on at the centre and spend Christmas there. Unfortunately, his hands are now in a poor state, swollen and purple. In the mornings he warmed them up in a bowl of warm water. Staff at the centre will help him find longer term accommodation and to access health services such as a GP.
Ultimately, Rui wants to return to Portugal next year, although he is not in regular contact with family over there.
But his more immediate concerns are far more startling.
"What is my hope for next Christmas? That I'll still be alive".