A must-see new film on homelessness by a notable director shines a light on the incredible work of a Glasgow initiative.
The new documentary, Someone's Daughter, Someone's Son, is the latest project from award-winning filmmaker Lorna Tucker.
Before making her name in the film industry with Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist, and Ama, Lorna became homeless at just 14 years old and spent two years living on the streets of London.
In her deeply personal investigation into the UK's homelessness crisis, Lorna turns her lens on programmes set up in Glasgow, surprisingly finding the foundations of a solution in the city.
She speaks with Jamie at his flat in Glasgow, provided to him by the groundbreaking Housing First programme delivered by Turning Point Scotland, also known as the Rapid Rehousing Transition programme (RRTP).
Jamie is one of six children born to a father who struggled with alcoholism and a mother who suffered from mental health issues.
He became addicted to heroin as a teenager and veered in and out of homelessness before he was provided with a flat and mental health support by Housing First.
Lorna said: "Jamie is such an incredible person. The minute I met him I knew that he would be able to help an audience no matter what their background is to understand the complexities behind addiction and homelessness.
"It's not as simple as just giving people flats or putting them in hostels - much greater care is needed to help rehabilitate people, especially the longer they are on the streets.
"This is why we're releasing a campaign about preventative measures but for those that have already slipped through the cracks, Housing First makes the biggest difference."
With the support of Housing First, Jamie secures a place at Glasgow University to study nuclear chemistry and physics. He also gives talks on mental health and DJs.
Lorna said: "Jamie's story shows with the right support how far you can go and he's doing amazing things now. He's flourishing."
Lorna says she was “completely blown away” that there were models like Housing First and that Scotland had already started rolling it out, adopting it and “having great successes with it”.
She added: “I selfishly wanted to go and see and speak to people who had been put in Housing First accommodation.
"I spoke to a lot more people than were in the film but I wanted to simplify it and have one character that can help you learn and bust the myths around homelessness.”
She describes the process of making the film as a personal journey, taking her knowledge of homelessness and using it to tell a raw and humanising story.
She added: "If anyone were to have asked me or any of my friends who have lived experience, what would be the things that could help eradicate homelessness? It's clear things that we all felt are within the film itself.
“People will always fall on the streets and people will always fall through the cracks.
"But the less time they spend on the streets, the less complex their needs are and the less help they're going to need. It costs less and fewer people go to prison.
“This is the first time I've worn my heart on my sleeve and I'm in a film. It’s quite frightening and quite scary but I stand by the reasons I made it.
"I hope it does start the conversation and empowers people.”
Someone's Daughter, Someone's Son is showing at Glasgow Film Theatre on February 9. To find out more, click here.
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