ANDY: It can happen to anyone

Andy is 43 years old. He became homeless eight years ago. We are grateful. Andy is willing to share his life with us. That's not a matter of course. But Andy knows that it can happen to anyone. In collaboration with a team of creative people and the Franziskustreff Foundation, a film was made about Andy's path to homelessness. A film that stands for so many fates.

Things went wrong at work. Then the company went bankrupt. The result: he lost his job. Colleagues. Friends. It was difficult to cope. Writing job applications. Receiving rejections. It's hard on the nerves. Nineteen times: Thank you for your application, but ... He is frustrated. His self-esteem plummets. Arguments with his wife. Separation. Divorce.

He couldn't stand it at home any more. Sitting at home and drawing unemployment benefit? That wasn't for him. It pushed him outside. That's what he liked as a child and teenager. Being outside. Feeling freedom. Except that he still had a home back then ...

Divorce is followed by moving out. But not to a new flat. Andy decided to live on the street "for an indefinite period of time", as he puts it. He already knew a few people there. Like friends.

Andy has been travelling ever since. In different cities. He sleeps outside at any time of year. Often hidden in the woods, where he forms a temporary community with others. Sleeping in tents, even in sub-zero temperatures. There he feels protected from theft by other homeless people. He feels safer there than in accommodation, for example. Once it even became life-threatening for him. Someone poured petrol over his sleeping bag while he was sleeping.

Only he and his friends know the place in the forest, by the stream. They sleep more peacefully by the fire than under bridges in the city.

Maybe not for long

Every morning after getting up, Andy goes into the city. In Frankfurt, his route takes him to the Franziskustreff. After breakfast, he goes out to collect bottles. Later, he meets up with friends for the rest of the day "to scrounge": One passer-by gives this, the other that. Sometimes Andy scrounges on his own - he saves the money for his daughter, whom he sees occasionally. He wants her to have a Bundeswehr sleeping bag for her birthday. He is in good contact with her and wants to stay that way.

Living homeless is hard on the bones. Andy would like to return to normal life in two or three years. His daughter would love that too. What does he have in mind? Helping others. We're keeping our fingers crossed for him.