Cambridgeshire care leaver 'nearly died' while homeless
Kerrie Portman's been recognised for her work to help young people with care experience
A care leaver from Cambridgeshire said she "nearly died" while struggling to find a safe place to live.
Kerrie Portman has been made homeless four times, three since leaving the care system at 18-years-old.
"I was placed in temporary accommodation with no furniture in the middle of nowhere, somewhere I'd never heard of before with no support, sleeping on the floor alone," Kerrie said.
"I'd go periods of time without anyone treating me with kindness.
"I nearly died multiple times, and yet that experience of homelessness was lucky compared to others and it should not be this way, ever."
Changemaker
Kerrie has been named in the Big Issue's top 100 changemakers, which recognises people who do good for their communities.
She has previously shared her story of abuse while in care, and has campaigned to make care experience a protected characteristic.
Councils in Cambridgeshire now recognise this in a bid to prevent care leavers facing direct and indirect discrimination, such as in housing, education and employment.
"(My experience) inspires me to do everything I can to raise awareness of the realities of homelessness," Kerrie said.
"It is very important for decision-makers to hear from people with lived experience of these systems, to understand the reality of our lives and how the systems that ought to help protect us, fail us."
Homeless young care leavers up by more than third
Government figures show the number of young care leavers aged 18-20 who faced homelessness has increased by 37% in the last five years.
While 67% of young care leavers between these ages were already homeless by the time they received support from their local authority.
Last year, the Home for Good initiative reported 8% of care leavers aged 17-years-old, 3% of care leavers aged 18 and 5% of care leavers aged 19-21 were in accommodation that's classed as unsuitable.
In December, Cambridgeshire County Council backed a motion calling to fund a "care experienced champion" to support people with care experience and give guidance to the council on best practice to safeguard care experienced people's rights.
Kerrie's campaign
Since becoming a campaigner when she was made homeless for the first time after leaving care, Kerrie has spoken to local district councils to try and improve the work they're doing to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
She also volunteers with organisations including Diamond Hampers in Huntingdon to help those struggling with issues such as housing.
Kerrie is preparing to speak with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority on improving job opportunities for those who've experienced homelessness.
"More than anything, I hope to use my experience of homelessness and living in insecure and unsafe housing to help create change for others," Kerrie added.
"If I can, maybe this goes some way towards (easing) the pain."
In its national plan to end homelessness, the Government aims to carry out measures such as scrapping the two-child benefit cap, building 1.5 million new homes and investing £3.5 billion in homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years.