Homeless man, 52, who was dwelling inside a tiny garments bin is evicted
A homeless man has been evicted from the clothes bin he has been living in after members of a nearby church and school complained about him sleeping there.
The 52-year-old rough sleeper, who enjoyed living in the tiny container with the ‘comfiest bed I’ve ever slept in,’ has moved on after locals complained.
The former heroin addict, known only as Nigel, had set up home in the pastel blue unlocked container near a church car park in the Erdington area of Birmingham, West Midlands, five weeks ago.
But after being giving his marching orders he has fled to Coventry where he is understood to be back living in multiple occupancy accommodation, which he dislikes.
To stop Nigel returning to the charity bin next to Erdington Abbey, a parish centre and Abbey Catholic Primary School – and to prevent any other homeless people bedding down – the container is now being relocated.
Homeless man Nigel had been living in a clothes bank in the Erdington area of Birmingham
However he has since been evicted from the clothes recycling bin after a local church and school complained
When MailOnline called at his home today, a woman believed to be a worker at the parish centre, shouted: ‘He’s gone and you won’t find him!
‘He should never have been there in the first place and there have been lots of complaints. He was not wanted!
‘Plus the clothes bank is on private land.
‘It is no longer in use, we are moving it to another place so the same thing doesn’t happen.’
The container, is a third full of unwanted clothes for charity, but there is no sign of Nigel’s presence.
He has moved his bedding and belongings out.
It is not known if West Midlands Police were involved in moving him on.
The boozer, who is originally from London, had slept each night in the bin before heading out onto the streets to beg.
Footage shows how Nigel has set up a mini home for himself with bedding and duvets – and it even has his own ‘library’ with a selection of books and a ‘beer shelf’.
It is understood he has since fled to Coventry where he is back living in multiple occupancy accommodation, which he dislikes.
Nigel discovered the unlocked clothes bin five weeks ago and now slept there every night
The container – next to Erdington Abbey, a parish centre and Abbey Catholic Primary School – is now being relocated to prevent anyone else setting up base
Nigel said he found himself on the streets of Birmingham after being put up in a multiple occupancy house with drug addicts in Northampton.
Before being kicked out Nigel said In an interview with the Birmz is Grime blog, Nigel that he was hoping to find a permanent place to stay in Coventry but was happy in Erdington in the meantime.
He said: ‘I’ve been living in the clothes bin for four or five weeks. I realised it was open. It’s warm inside and it’s waterproof.
It’s more comfortable than any bed I’ve ever had. There’s my library, there’s my beer shelf.
‘Nobody has put clothes in while I’ve been inside. If they did, I think I’d say ‘thank you’ and they will be like ‘hang on, the bin’s talking to me’.
‘I’m totally off the heroin but a few beers help me sleep at night.
‘I’ll have a little drink here – but I’ve been clean of drugs since Christmas Eve. Before that is was crack and heroin. It made me feel numb.
The inside of the clothing bank where Nigel lived. He previously said no one has dropped clothes on him
Nigel had decorated the inside of the clothing bank by installing shelves to place his books on
Along with the ‘library’, Nigel also had a shelf to put drinks on – including a can of cider
‘But I love it here, I love Erdington. people are nice. I’ll probably get about £10 a day but that’s enough.
The footage of Nigel talking about his plight has been viewed more than 600,000 times in just 24 hours.
One person commented: ‘What a lovely man. I can’t take it in just how he has to live. Love and light to him. I hope he finds a safe permanent place to live’
Another added: ‘Let’s hope a padlock don’t get put on it whilst he’s in there. God bless him and help him.’
