Manoel's story

When Manoel Filho first came to Crisis, he was sleeping rough and faced violence.

Since then, he’s become an outspoken Crisis campaigner and has delivered powerful speeches at parliamentary events.

He now lives in a settled home, has published a graphic novel based on his experience of homelessness and set up his own co-production company.

This is his story.

Manoel’s passion for campaigning is clear. Speaking about it makes his eyes light up with excitement and confidence. But when he first came to Crisis, he was in a difficult time in his life.

Manoel left his home country after facing persecution for his sexuality. In the UK, he became a victim of modern slavery.

While he managed to escape, the trauma from his experiences remained, and his mental health deteriorated significantly. He was forced into sleeping rough, where he faced violence and abuse.

“I ended up on the streets because I didn't know anybody else.”

“Somebody told me about the Crisis Skylight in Croydon. They told me it doesn't matter where you are from or what is your story. If you are sleeping rough, they are going to help you.”

Crisis supported him to apply for asylum in the UK. This was granted and he was supported into temporary accommodation, where he lived for more than two years.

Living in temporary accommodation is still a form of homelessness. It's insecure and often lacks basic facilities. Manoel lives with HIV, and he feared for his safety if he revealed this.

“I felt very lonely. It was not good for my mental health. I didn’t have anywhere to do my laundry. I couldn’t say that I'm gay or living with HIV – it just didn’t feel like home."

It was these experiences that spurred Manoel to get involved with campaigning with Crisis.

“One of the things that started my journey to campaigning was when I saw how important it was to share my story.”

Manoel had the opportunity to go to Parliament and share his experiences with MPs.

“I saw that talking about my [experiences in] temporary accommodation was opening a debate there. I realised that I could do something if I talked about the reality I was living.

“I could express myself and show how difficult it was to be trapped for so long in that situation; how my mental health was affected, and how isolated I was.”

“I was learning that my story – every story – has the power to engage more people with homelessness. I felt I have the power to influence other people.

Manoel wanted to do more. He joined Crisis’ Lived Experience Advisory panel, which advises on campaigning and policy.

He took part in policy development and campaign stunts, spoke at events and worked as a community researcher for a racism and homelessness project.

He also helped deliver our 20,000-strong open letter to No 10 Downing Street, alongside Ray and Isra.

“Working with people like Isra and Ray gave me so much strength. Like me, they had been through homelessness.

“But they still wanted to do something that would support people who are going through that journey now. It was amazing to be with them.”

Manoel is working to highlight the challenges faced by people living with HIV who are experiencing homelessness.

“Maybe we’re going to have something coming out of this like a possible housing scheme for people living with HIV. I learned the power of campaigning.

“But I’m also making politicians come together and be more efficient in the way that they deliver something for our communities.”

Reflecting on how his work has benefited him and the communities he is part of, Manoel says:

“Campaigning has given me so much knowledge and understanding about how the housing system works. Now I can share with people and my community when they are at risk or they are homeless.”

Manoel is now living in a permanent social home.

“To be settled in a home gives me the strength to continue the work that I’ve been doing. I can feel safe. I can build the dreams that were once there.”

Those dreams are now seeing the light of day. He has launched his own company, Lived Experience Co-production Ltd.

With support from Crisis, Action for Humanity UK, and the HIV sector, he has co-created ‘Out in Parks: A Queer Man’s Journey In and Out of Rough Sleeping’, a graphic novel that uses storytelling to highlight the intersection between HIV and homelessness.

Manoel now works to ensure marginalised voices are genuinely heard and drive systemic change.

“Everything that I have been producing and doing with Crisis is everything that I like. Crisis has become a space that I can go to. Crisis creates a space for people with lived experience to flourish here and now.”