Homeless British couple forced to sleep at Heathrow Airport

This British couple said the only roof over their heads they could find was Heathrow Airport. Source: Getty Images

A COUPLE forced to sleep at Heathrow Airport after losing their house and savings has been amazed at the offers of support they received from complete strangers.

Alan Lane, 71, and Katrina Smith, 62, have been sleeping, eating and living at Heathrow Airport after losing their house in Poole, Dorset, 18 months ago.

Reported in The Telegraph, the couple, who have been together for 28 years, were forced onto the streets after job insecurities and some bad decision saw their once comfortable life slip away from underneath them.

The couple usually don’t get to sleep until around 2am when the airport closes. Source: Getty Images

The middle class couple have been unable to claim benefits from Britain’s welfare system as they do not qualify for low-cost social housing as they are not considered “vulnerable”, they are not disabled, mentally ill, drug or alcohol dependent and they don't have dependent children. Despite sending emails to over 100 charities for help and applying for numerous jobs they found themselves destitute, their only option to squat at Heathrow Airport.

For two nights a week they manage to scrape together enough money to stay at a modest B & B for $100 a night where they can sleep, shower and wash their clothes.

The constantly move around the airport for fear of being caught squatting and say they’re not the only ones using the warm building for shelter.

The couple have to make sure they are constantly on the move so they are not caught out. Source: Getty Images

However since their story came to light over the weekend the couple has been inundated with offers of support from complete strangers.

One stranger set up an online charity page which has so far raised $17,680, another offered free rent at her self-contained flat for a month, and another said they could stay in her spare bedroom for as long as they needed.

Mr Lane once earned $157K working as a communications consultant and Ms Smith used to nanny. However work has been hard to find and the couple has been living off a minimum income to stay afloat.

post from sitemap