PEOPLE have rallied together to help a man who was once homeless move into his new flat.

Steven Waddup, 51, from Bicester, put out an appeal on Facebook asking people if they could donate furniture and other homewares to help Bicester resident Kenny move into a new home.

Mr Waddup said he was overwhelmed by the response, with people offering to donate items such as kitchen utensils, a chest of drawers, bedding and food.

He said: “A lot of people know Kenny from town and have seen what he’s gone through, so he’s got a lot of support.

Also read: Oxford Mutual Aid seeks volunteers with refrigerated vans to deliver meals

“I’ve been inundated with messages from people and I’m working out how to get through them all. Someone has even offered to get him a TV and a lady has offered to pay for his TV licence for a year.

“There’s everything; washing machine, kitchen items, food vouchers, food boxes.

“This wasn’t possible without the generosity of Bicester people, even during these tough, testing times they still found it within them to give items.”

Oxford Mail:

Kenny has been homeless for 10 years, and Mr Waddup said they when he saw him in Bicester Town Centre he would give him some cash and food.

He said: “We used to see him busking in town and my son took a liking to him and got a cushion for him to sit on. From then on, we have been trying to help him.

“I thought perhaps I could help him in more ways than just a cushion, so I decided to take it to the next stage.

Also read: Affordable homes for Lucy Faithfull House site

“Then one day we bumped into him in town and he looked ill, so I offered to pay for a taxi to get him to the hospital and he was diagnosed with heart issues.”

With ill health, Kenny had to be housed and with the help of Cherwell District Council was put into supported accommodation.

Now the council has been able to allocate him a flat.

Mr Waddup added: “Then I thought I could help by calling on the lovely people of Bicester to donate some things for his new home.”

Kenny plays the guitar and used to busk in Abingdon, Bicester and Oxford. After it broke at the beginning of the year, Mr Waddup managed to replace that as well.

Kenny said: “Steven has been a dream. He’s got me a new guitar because my other one broke. If he’s got a record deal I’ll take it.

Also read: More rough sleepers 'than ever before' in Bicester town centre

“It’s amazing. I’m blown away by human kindness. It’s such a demonstration of love.”

Bicester Salvation Army said it was grateful for the generosity of the community to support Kenny.

Cherwell District Council has provided emergency accommodation for rough sleepers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Rebecca Dalton, who coordinates the Salvation Army Drop-In said: “It’s been lovely to see local rough sleepers safe and warm with a roof over their heads. It shows that homelessness is a problem that can be fixed when there’s the political will.

“We hope now that others, like this lovely man, can also find a long term home and not be pushed back outside as the pandemic subsides.”

Mr Waddup has set up a gofundme page for Kenny. To donate go to gofundme.com/f/kennys-food-fund.