Jacob Jarvis

How I got the story

Walking past Leicester’s main shopping centre, I saw that homeless people had set up camp on the street nearby.

I tried to speak to them there and then but could not stir one from sleep. Another was in his tent and would not reply to me.

The fact it was so clearly in the public eye made me feel like we needed to cover, so I went back for a few days in a row until I eventually got to speak to one of the men. After gaining his trust to a point, he let me take a photograph of him by the tents. I also took some general pictures of the site.

To give context to the situation, I spoke to businesses in the street by their camp and I also contacted the council for comment. This formed three stories online.

A spokesman told me the authority could consider moving them on, which completely reworked the angle of it for print.

Print usage

Story links

• Click here to read my interview with one of the rough sleepers
• Click here to read the comments from businesses
• Click here to read the council response 

Social media