Twin sisters who were devastated by the death of their sister have since devoted their lives to helping homeless and marginalised people around Leeds.
Shelley and Becky Joyce started helping rough sleepers by going on food runs but now provide support to more than 140 families across city.
The twins, both aged 48, were left heartbroken after their sister younger Abi died from an overdose aged just 39 in August 2017.
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Later that year, they teamed up to create Homeless Street Angels in a bid to help other vulnerable people like their sister.
Shelley said: “My younger sister Abi died four years ago from an overdose.
“We had a good childhood but this can happen to anyone.
“When Abi died we had just started going out, but we said we would make this a charity and we would make a difference
“We threw every waking minute into this charity to help people.”
Shelley said conditions are ‘horrific’ for homeless people during the winter with storms and snow sweeping through the region.
She said: “It’s horrific for someone on the street around this time. It’s freezing weather,
“Some people have been homeless for so long that they have become used to the harsh weather.
“But it’s life-saving for people to get homes this time of the year.
“I knew one man who died in January, it can be life-threatening out there.”
In late 2017, the sisters went out to provide food for rough sleepers with a pal and the experience left them ‘completely heartbroken’.
Since that day they have gone out every week on the same run and have provided roughly 400 meals a month.
Shelley added: “Becky and her friend were feeding the homeless. When I went out with the aim to help people, I came home and cried for two hours.
“I didn’t realise just how many people were on the street.”
Shelley said that no matter how much work they put in, there is always a constant flow of people left to fend for themselves on the streets.
She said: “We try to do up homes, and a lot of people have been rehoused but there is a constant flow of people who become homeless.
“So many people are ending up on the streets, it’s just constant.
“There are so many reasons why people end up on the streets. It can be drugs or alcohol, or it can be mental health issues.
“Some have left violent relationships, some have gotten out of prison. Everyone is different.”
Shelley herself was in a violent relationship in her youth and was homeless, while her sister Becky is now 15 years clean from heroin after battling the addiction for over a decade.
She said that often homeless people struggle to reintegrate into society because they are ostracised - which is why they focus on providing continued support even after housing.
Some also become more accustomed to being on the streets where they have a community of people who treat them like human beings.
She said: “What we do find when we go out to tents is that they struggle to engage because they don’t know what to do.
“We had a guy who got a flat with the council, but he was so used to the noise he put his tent out on his balcony
“It is a community, they have support on the street. They stick together.
“Sometimes they get isolated if they get a flat. So we try to give them continued support if they get to that point so they can feel comfortable.”
One person they helped rehome was reduced to tears after Becky gave him a knife and fork as he had never had one before.
Shelley added: “Seeing these things every day is just so heartbreaking.”
As a charity, their biggest expenses are sleeping bags as they tend to get wet and become unusable.
Shelley said they give out roughly 800 a year.
Thanks to kind donations, they are also able to provide £1,200 worth of toiletries, food, shoes, coats, and blankets each week.
Shelley said homeless people still get a lot of abuse from the public and she is trying to help educate people on the realities of homelessness.
She added: “Homeless people do get so much abuse from the public, which is so difficult.
“We have had a few guys who were attacked viciously in their tent.
“Some people go shoplifting so they can go back to prison because it’s safer for them there.”
The sisters have organised talks at schools around West Yorkshire as they believe ‘prevention is better than the cure’.
Shelley added: “If you educate people early on, and show people to not have prejudice.
“Some homeless people don’t want anything, they want a hug or a smile. Just some empathy.”
They currently work out of their homes but Shelley said they hope to one day open a day centre named Abi House after their sister.
If you want to support Homeless Street Angels you can donate here.
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