Homeless granddad to spend Christmas in hotel after kind stranger's support

20 December 2023 , 17:17

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Isabel Ainsworth-Smith (left) and the homeless man in Desborough, Northamptonshire (Image: Joseph Walshe / SWNS)

A homeless grandad will spend Christmas in a hotel after a kindly teacher learned he was sleeping by bins.

Isabel Ainsworth-Smith, 22, launched an online appeal after befriending Matt, who does not want to give his surname. It raised enough within hours to put him up at the £45-a-night George Hotel for 14 days. Matt, a former scaffolder, said: “I am overwhelmed by the kindness of the people here.”

Primary school teacher Isabel saw Matt shivering outside a Co-op and bought him a sandwich. He told her he had lost his home after a break-up and had been sleeping in the shop’s bin store in Desborough, Northants, for a year.

Isabel said: “He said he was at the bottom of the list for housing because he’s a single man, under 50 with no dependents. I got home to my warm house and thought it wasn’t right. I paid for him to stay the night at the hotel and then put out a message on social media explaining the situation.”

The George Hotel, where the homeless man will be staying (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)

Other businesses in the town pitched in to help Matt, a dad of two and grandad of one, with Wendy-Lou’s Tearoom and The Treat Box offering him meals. And locals have been dropping off toiletries and clothes.

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Isabel has also been in touch with North Northamptonshire Council to find out if they can help him after Christmas. She said: “I teach kindness, and as a Christian I can’t see someone like Matt and do nothing.” The council was approached for a comment.

Ryan Fahey