About Homelessness Inside Out

From Pavements to Purpose: The Story Behind Homelessness Inside Out By Kerri Douglas – Founder, Speaker, Writer, Advocate

My name is Kerri Douglas. I’m the founder of Homelessness Inside Out—a platform built from lived experience, driven by purpose, and committed to changing the way we see, talk about, and respond to homelessness. But before I ever stood in front of audiences or led workshops, I was a child in care.

A teenager without safety. A young woman lost in systems that weren’t designed to see me, let alone support me. This is my story, and the heart behind Homelessness Inside Out.

Growing Up Unseen

I didn’t have the kind of childhood people write fairy tales about. I grew up in the care system, bounced from placement to placement, with no real sense of stability or belonging. Like many care-experienced young people, I learned early how to survive, but not how to thrive. Abuse, neglect, and constant upheaval shaped my understanding of the world.

By the time I was a teenager, I was already falling through the cracks. Mental health challenges, trauma, and the weight of feeling unwanted pushed me into survival mode. Eventually, I found myself homeless, not because I made “bad choices,” but because I never had the foundations to make safe ones.

Homeless, Not Hopeless

People often see homelessness as the problem. But it’s a symptom. The real problem is what happens long before someone ends up on the streets, poverty, abuse, racism, family breakdown, trauma, and lack of support. 

For me, homelessness wasn’t just a housing issue. It was a human issue. I needed someone to see me. Hear me. Help me heal. Instead, I was met with stigma, silence, and services stretched too thin.

But somehow, something inside me refused to give up. I kept fighting, not just for myself, but for the version of me that had been ignored, dismissed, and misunderstood.  Slowly, with help from a few good people and my own grit, I began to rebuild. I found my voice. And when I started speaking about my experiences, I realised just how powerful that voice could be.

From Survival to Advocacy

As I began sharing my story publicly, I noticed something: people listened. Not out of pity, but out of a genuine desire to understand. Teachers, social workers, policy makers, and frontline professionals began telling me how much they learned from hearing it all laid bare, the pain, the truth, the reality behind the label of “homeless.”

I realised I wasn’t just telling my story, I was offering a mirror. A mirror to the systems that failed me. A mirror to the assumptions we all carry. And most importantly, a mirror that reflects the resilience of those who are too often ignored.

That’s when Homelessness Inside Out was born.

What Is Homelessness Inside Out?

Homelessness Inside Out is not just a project—it’s a mission. A movement. A challenge to look deeper.

I created this platform to bridge the gap between lived experience and professional practice. Through books, workshops, and keynote speeches, I turn painful past experiences into tools for change.

• Books: My titles, including Homelessness Inside Out and Gutter to Glory – Pavements to Parliament, tell the raw, unfiltered truth of what it means to grow up in care, survive the streets, and climb out. These aren’t just stories—they’re lessons in resilience, failure, and recovery.
• Workshops: I offer half-day and full-day sessions based on the Homelessness Inside Out workbook. These are safe, powerful spaces for professionals, students, and organisations to explore homelessness through a trauma-informed, person-centred lens. It’s real, reflective, and rooted in lived experience.
• Keynote Speeches: I speak at conferences, events, and training days to put a human face on homelessness. My talks break down stigma and leave audiences feeling inspired, informed, and ready to be part of the solution.

Why This Work Matters

There are so many misconceptions about homelessness. People often think it’s about addiction, laziness, or bad choices. But behind every person experiencing homelessness is a story of pain, loss, and systemic failure.

I’m living proof that change is possible—but not without support, understanding, and people willing to see the human being behind the label.

Homelessness Inside Out exists to shift those perspectives. We help professionals become more compassionate and better equipped. We give voice to those who feel silenced. We show young people—especially care leavers—that their past doesn’t have to dictate their future.

My Vision for the Future

I want to see a society where lived experience is not only heard, but valued. Where care-experienced young people are supported from the start. Where professionals are trauma-informed, and systems are people-focused. Where homelessness is addressed not just with housing, but with healing.

In the next few years, I plan to grow Homelessness Inside Out into a national programme—offering more training, expanding our workbook into schools and universities, and building partnerships across housing, health, education, and justice.

But I can’t do it alone. That’s why I invite you—whoever you are—to get involved.

Read the book. Book a talk. Host a workshop. Share the message. Challenge the narrative.