A HOMELESS man forced to live in woods in Falmouth says he has been overwhelmed by support from local people after he appealed for help to build himself a shelter.
David Holden, 41, asked on Facebook for materials to be able to put up a temporary shelter after being forced into homelessness after losing his business and job due to Covid last year.
He doesn't want the location revealed for fear he might be targeted and says he is making sure it isn't disturbing the local environment.
He post on the C.R.A.P. Falmouth Facebook page said: "Hi, I am homeless, living in the woods.
"I am building a more permanent shelter than my tent, just wondering if anyone as any nails and possibly some off cuts of wood they are not using, have quite a few fallen trees but want to minimise my impact on nature, don't have much cash at min but could give something next week when I do. Thanks."
The response was immediate with people offering him nails, wood and turning up with power tools to help him.
"It's been overwhelming really," said Mr Holden. "I was overwhelemed really by the support I have been offered.
"I was really, really shocked. Not something that I have seen even when 17 on the streets. Overwhelmed by support. Lots of people out there genuinely want to help people. I have had so many offers of equipment to build the shelter people dropping off all kinds of things for me over the next few days. They're going to help build it a lot quicker than I was expecting, certainly do the basics."
Mr Holden has lived in Cornwall for past 18 years, ten of those in Falmouth living in the diver's layby on Pendennis Point, the scene of much controversy in the past few years. Up until last year he was operating a man with a van business while living in the vehicle.
However when work dried up he was forced to sell his van and ended up living in a car.
After six months he managed to get a job with a removal firm but health problems forced him to leave and, with no money to live, he was back in his car until it died and he sold it for scrap to buy a tent.
He bought himself an orange tent but has realised it is not going to last so is building himself a shelter hidden in the woods to survive.
"When lockdown hit last year my business was struggling through the winter time, really sporadic," said Mr Holden. "It was always hit and miss but I got by, but then lockdown hit and it came to a grinding halt and then that was the end of my business because there were no houses to move or anything like that and it came to an end.
"I was told the only option was to sign on, which was a massive shock to my system having worked so hard on my business. I got stuck on dole living in vehicles and ended up in Castle Car Park with police carrying out checks.
"A friend's business picked up in December and he was offered work but found the physical side really difficult after being inactive for so long came to the point where I couldn't go on any more."
He says the Salvation Army in Falmouth have been really, really good helping him out. Cornwall Council told him he would be lucky to get a property in ten years because he's not from this area.
Mr Holden grew up in care from the age of 12, after his adoptive parents divorced.
"I've realised over the years that I am an introvert personality and need to find somewhere I feel more safe," he said. "I am usually on my own and that's the good thing about going into the woods, it gives me a bit more seclusion that I need. It's not a good long term option but I expect to be there for a long time as I don't see any other way out of it."
He says he is hoping to stay at the site for six months to two years if he keeps a low profile.
"I won't be able to make fires just wear lots of warmer clothes and thermals. Pretty good at that sort of stuff.
"It's a beautiful place to stay by nature and by the sea only thing gave me a stability and health, gone through lots of mental battles. I find peace in nature."
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