Angel can generally be found sitting quietly at the shelter, drawing. At 37, he’s been living in the UK for nine months – and at Shelter from the Storm, just a month. He’s Bulgarian, but moved here from Athens where he lived with his Afghani boyfriend and ran a successful hairdressing studio until the economy turned.
He loves England and moved here because he felt ostracised in his homeland because of his sexuality. While his mother understands and loves him, his family find it difficult to relate to him, still wondering why he isn’t married with children. He claims he has nothing there and was constantly depressed: he moved to find a better life in England.
Now that he’s at the shelter, he’s continuing English lessons and has made some nice friends there. He enjoys his new home but is hoping for his own soon. He’s just found a job as a hairdresser and when he describes it, his face lights up with such warmth. Slowly, he’s starting to rebuild his life.