Former homeless man Dean Thomas is appealing for help to build his business from scratch
A former homeless man is appealing to the public to help him build his business from the ground up after months spent begging on the streets.
Dean Thomas, 46, who now lives in sheltered housing in Bury St Edmunds, ended up on the streets in March last year after becoming addicted to drugs which he was taking to cope with a back injury.
His addiction also saw the breakdown of his marriage as well as his successful heating and plumbing business which he had built from scratch in 1999, and which turned over £1.6million in its final year.
But Dean is now determined to get his life back on the right track and, with the help of his friend Michelle Ames, has set up a crowdfunding page to raise as much as he can to take the first steps.
“This is not a case of me trying to get rich, I just want to offer a good quality service,” he said.
“It’s about feeling that I’ve accomplished something and that I’ve managed to provide something that helps other people as well as myself. It would mean the world to be able to do it and just to feel wanted by society again.”
Dean also hopes that, through his new business, he will be able to help others who have overcome struggles and mental health issues and are trying to better themselves.
“I’d love to take on young boys and girls and those who have faced their own challenges because I know how difficult it is to be on that side of things and have people turn you away,” he said. “I want to be the employer who will say yes to anyone, regardless of past mistakes.”
The justgiving page has so far raised £320 of a £6,000 target, but Dean has remained hopeful for the future.
“It’s so heart-warming that people who have nothing themselves are willing to help me,” he said. “It’s not even about reaching the target amount. Anything that people can give to help me would make a difference and I hope to be able to return the favour one day.”
Michelle, who first met Dean when he was begging on the streets, said: “Dean’s is a really sad story because when he had money he was an extremely generous man but when he was down, no one was there for him.”
To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/dean-thomas