The heartbreaking plight of a pregnant woman sleeping on Swansea’s streets has sparked an effort to help her.
Natalie Cox, 26, who is two months pregnant, revealed she had turned to drink and performing sex acts on men just to get a roof over her head.
She said in an interview with WalesOnline: “It’s hard. I know I’m pregnant but I’m drinking more. The winter is going to be horrible. I am worried about the cold and keeping myself warm.”
Read more: 'Someone tried to bite my nose off': Life bereft of hope homeless on the streets of Wales
Since the article, there have been a number of offers of help for Natalie, including some looking to cover the cost of accommodation for her during the winter, to protect her from the plunging temperatures.
Christmas dinners for her and the rest of the homeless and vulnerable population are also being planned.
One man got in touch saying: “The piece about Natalie literally moved me to tears, and I have been unable to get it out of my mind.
“Is there any way you could arrange for me to pay for accommodation for her over the winter, which sadly looks like being a severe one? I have had first hand experience of the plight of homeless people, and what a terrible, seemingly endless problem it is. This seems to be a situation where somebody could make a real difference.”
Natalie, who is originally from Gorseinon, is estranged from her family and moved to the city aged 14.
She said: “I am trying to survive on the streets - it’s complete madness. It’s bad, it’s really bad. I’m just constantly drinking. I should not be in this space. I split up from my boyfriend and I’m two months gone - the doctor confirmed it. I have always relied on my other half for everything and I need somewhere to live.”
She said 2020 had been the hardest year she had known, as the country was in the grip of multiple lockdowns.
“A man tried to throw me off the SA1 bridge last year at 2am,” she said.
“It’s f****** horrible, I’ve had to sofa surf. I’ve had to perform sex acts on men to get my head down on a pillow. I was desperate to get anything.”
Also interviewed alongside Natalie was Andrew Knee, 42, of Merthyr, who said he turned to crime during the winter months just to get a roof over his head in the warmth of prison.
He said he had been urinated on and kicked by people coming out of the pubs during his time living rough.
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“Last winter it was below freezing and you are too cold to move. Every day I worry about not waking up the next day. It’s not nice, you are not even sleeping through the night, it’s so cold," he said.
“I will try to go to jail, I have been in and out of jail my whole life. Some just go in after doing a shoplift but with my record, it’s impossible. I will have to do something to go to jail to get a bit of warmth.”
A steady stream of people have come forward to offer their support for Natalie, Andrew, and others in their shoes.
Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East, who is spearheading the Everyone Deserves A Christmas campaign, to give festive hampers to those most in need at Christmas said she was looking to supply toiletries and a festive dinner for Natalie.
She said: “This story broke my heart. My team are looking at what we can do to help and we will make sure that we get this lady any support that we can.”
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