Top CGI director who became homeless thinks utility firms could help prevention

From earning a six-figure salary as a film special effects director to being homeless and close to death from alcohol abuse, Bill Scanlon experienced a dramatic fall.

But he is now back on his feet and as a homelessness ambassador he believes prevention is key, suggesting utility companies could help by spotting the behaviour patterns of people at risk.

“There are obvious patterns of behaviour that can spot the people who are in trouble,” Mr Scanlon said on Sunday.

“Patterns and behaviours of people living at what I call a granular level.

“I’d like to see some movement on that from a national level.”

Mr Scanlon, from west London, was speaking at the launch of a temporary Christmas homeless shelter by charity Crisis at a school in Chalk Farm, where pop star Ellie Goulding also volunteered.

Offering food, bedding, dental care and advice, the shelter is one of 15 across the UK set up by Crisis to accommodate more than 4,000 people over the Christmas period when some other shelters close.

It comes as a study by the charity found homelessness has reached record-high levels with more than 170,000 families and individuals experiencing destitution.

Mr Scanlon said his decade-long slide into homelessness was triggered by a divorce he could not deal with and pushed along by a bad drinking problem.

He also had underlying trauma from childhood, as both his parents took their own lives when he was a young boy.

But for many years he was the director of a film post-production company, earning more than £100,000 a year thanks to his talent for CGI animation.

Touched by who he met and what he saw while homeless, Mr Scanlon now wants to help others turn their lives around.

“There’s a story behind everybody,” he said.

“They’re not just feckless, useless people living on the street. There is some reason behind why they’re there and I want to start smashing the stigma.”

Although his fall into homeless was different to some others, Ms Scanlon connected with those roughing it in hostels.

“I found so much commonality between myself and many other people in there who had gone through similar kinds of childhood traumas,” he said.

The 51-year-old also advocates for the prevention of homelessness through effective programmes by local authorities, mental health services, the Work and Pension Department, and medical clinics.