For Laraine McHendrie Decarie, life has changed drastically.
In the 1980s, she was representing Great Britain and Canada in swimming competitions around the world.
She studied at university in London and Canada, gaining a degree from McGill University - one of the world's most prestigious universities. Lorraine also worked as a nanny and social worker abroad - travelling the world and making the most of life.
She had a happy life, giving back to others who needed her help.
But when she retired in England in the late 1990s, her world turned upside down.
The 64-year-old has been living on the streets of London for the past four years, sleeping alone on a bit of cardboard or a bench in a church graveyard.
This is how she ended up homeless.
Laraine (pronounced 'Lorraine) told MyLondon: "Unfortunately I lost my finances. I ended up in my situation actually because of changes in the system, and theft and fraud and different things like that.
"I paid into the system probably since the age of 14, whilst [I was] still at school, but I worked in all sorts of things since 11.
"But they changed the age of retirement, so now it's 66. So two pensions that I've paid for got moved, so I'm not eligible for that.
"It's a totally different world now - where you looked forward to your retirement and you did pay into the system, and it's taken away from you."
Digger said
Feb 27 4:54 PM, 2021
What a fucking disgrace! We are putting migrants up on hotels and this poor cow is on the streets. The pension shift was handled disastrously for most women. It should have been phased in using yearly increments.
Syl said
Mar 1 12:24 PM, 2021
No one in this day and age in a so called wealthy country should be living on the streets.
And I don't understand why, if she was to get any benefits now, they would have to be paid back once she receives her pension when she is 66? I thought that only applied if people falsely claimed money from the state.
Sounds to me she has been TOO honest. The people who slip through the welfare net always seem to be the ones who are above board.
Magica said
Mar 1 3:32 PM, 2021
Syl wrote:
No one in this day and age in a so called wealthy country should be living on the streets.
And I don't understand why, if she was to get any benefits now, they would have to be paid back once she receives her pension when she is 66? I thought that only applied if people falsely claimed money from the state. Sounds to me she has been TOO honest. The people who slip through the welfare net always seem to be the ones who are above board.
I had to wait 5 more years, til I was 65 despite paying in since 15yrs. We were promised we would get it at 60, they snatched that away!
Poor woman living in the street, like some of our soldiers, whilst illegals come over, get rooms, food, money covid injection the lot. This country used to look after its own, no more. Appalling!😠
Anonymous said
Mar 2 4:46 PM, 2021
There are a lot of homeless and partially homeless adults and children in Britain today for many reasons but mainly due to the breakdown of the family unit.
Syl said
Mar 3 1:10 AM, 2021
Anonymous wrote:
There are a lot of homeless and partially homeless adults and children in Britain today for many reasons but mainly due to the breakdown of the family unit.
That certainly adds to the problem.
For every family breakdown two houses are needed instead of one
https://www.mylondon.news/news/swimmer-64-who-represented-great-19916712
For Laraine McHendrie Decarie, life has changed drastically.
In the 1980s, she was representing Great Britain and Canada in swimming competitions around the world.
She studied at university in London and Canada, gaining a degree from McGill University - one of the world's most prestigious universities. Lorraine also worked as a nanny and social worker abroad - travelling the world and making the most of life.
She had a happy life, giving back to others who needed her help.
But when she retired in England in the late 1990s, her world turned upside down.
The 64-year-old has been living on the streets of London for the past four years, sleeping alone on a bit of cardboard or a bench in a church graveyard.
This is how she ended up homeless.
Laraine (pronounced 'Lorraine) told MyLondon: "Unfortunately I lost my finances. I ended up in my situation actually because of changes in the system, and theft and fraud and different things like that.
"I paid into the system probably since the age of 14, whilst [I was] still at school, but I worked in all sorts of things since 11.
"But they changed the age of retirement, so now it's 66. So two pensions that I've paid for got moved, so I'm not eligible for that.
"It's a totally different world now - where you looked forward to your retirement and you did pay into the system, and it's taken away from you."
And I don't understand why, if she was to get any benefits now, they would have to be paid back once she receives her pension when she is 66? I thought that only applied if people falsely claimed money from the state.
Sounds to me she has been TOO honest. The people who slip through the welfare net always seem to be the ones who are above board.
I had to wait 5 more years, til I was 65 despite paying in since 15yrs. We were promised we would get it at 60, they snatched that away!
Poor woman living in the street, like some of our soldiers, whilst illegals come over, get rooms, food, money covid injection the lot. This country used to look after its own, no more. Appalling!😠
There are a lot of homeless and partially homeless adults and children in Britain today for many reasons but mainly due to the breakdown of the family unit.
That certainly adds to the problem.
For every family breakdown two houses are needed instead of one