A new street art campaign is turning graffiti tags into powerful stories of survival as people who have experienced homelessness share their journeys across London, Bristol and Reading.
St Mungo’s has launched the free public art campaign with renowned street artist Luke Embden.
The campaign comes as rough sleeping continues to rise across England, with an estimated 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single night last autumn.
Lee, whose story inspired one of the London murals, said: “When I first became homeless, I felt invisible and completely disconnected.
“I wanted to share my story to help break down the misconceptions around homelessness and show that it can happen to anyone.”
Called I Was Here, the campaign transforms the familiar graffiti tag into a symbol of hope, resilience and survival.
Embden created the murals using the real-life experiences of Lee, Lawretta, Tamika and Ray.
Each person experienced homelessness before rebuilding their lives with support from St Mungo’s.
The charity installed the artworks in London, Bristol and Reading.
It chose the locations because its frontline teams supported each person out of homelessness there.
Each mural includes a QR code. Visitors can scan it to hear the individual’s story in their own words.
Lee’s journey began after he arrived in London and found himself sleeping rough.
A St Mungo’s outreach worker found him on his first night on the streets and the charity helped him into emergency accommodation.
Lee said: “Today, I feel incredibly lucky. Just three months ago, I was on the streets. Now I have a place to call home and can finally look to the future.
“Throughout it all, St Mungo’s has been my safety net. I want people to know that support is out there.”
Lawretta also features in one of the London murals. She became homeless after the breakdown of a relationship.
St Mungo’s referred her to one of its accommodation services. She has lived there for more than two years.
Tamika and Ray also shared their stories to help challenge perceptions of homelessness. Their murals appear in Bristol and Reading.
The campaign highlights the reality that homelessness can affect anyone.
It also shows how tailored support can help people recover and rebuild their lives.
St Mungo’s said 77 per cent of people helped off the streets by its outreach teams last year did not return to rough sleeping after moving into accommodation.
The charity hopes the campaign will encourage people to look beyond stereotypes.
It wants more people to understand the experiences of those facing homelessness.
London continues to record some of the highest levels of rough sleeping in the country.
Almost 12,900 people slept rough in the capital over the past year. That is the second-highest figure on record.
It is also around 60 per cent higher than a decade ago.
Last year, St Mungo’s supported more than 22,000 people at risk of or experiencing homelessness in London.
The charity operated 16 street outreach services across London and the South East.
Across England, it supported more than 28,000 people.
Its 138 specialist services provide accommodation, mental and physical healthcare, substance use support, learning, training, employment support and specialist services for women.
Elle Slater, service development manager at St Mungo’s, said: “Rough sleeping is a lonely, dangerous reality for the people we support, but this campaign proves people can move on from homelessness.
“We are grateful to Luke for spotlighting the resilience of Lee, Lawretta, Tamika and Ray.
“Hearing stories like theirs is how we change public perception about the people at the heart of our work.”
She added: “Our frontline teams work around the clock, come rain or shine, to support some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
“We make sure they receive the help and opportunities they need to rebuild their lives.
“This installation gives people the opportunity to listen and understand those on the frontline of the homelessness emergency.
“By sharing their interests and passions through art, they remind us that every person has a unique story beyond their circumstances.”
Embden said: “It’s been a privilege to develop these artworks with St Mungo’s.
“All too often, people see homelessness on the streets but walk on by, unsure of how to help.
“These murals remind people that supporting charities like St Mungo’s helps provide tailored support that leads to long-term recovery.
“I encourage anyone passing by to stop, listen and share a picture to support them.”
The I Was Here installations are now open to the public.
St Mungo’s hopes the campaign will encourage more people to hear these stories, challenge misconceptions about homelessness and support its frontline work.
Featured image credit: St Mungo’s homelessness charity
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