‘I Chose To Be Homeless – And It’s The Best Thing I’ve Ever Done’

Mike Cooney said he has “never felt so free” but knows he must “go back to the real world one day”, reports the Liverpool Echo.

A chef who was forced into homelessness after being told he could no longer keep his dogs in staff accommodation has embarked on a 500-mile journey. Mike Cooney, 44, originally from Manchester, was working at a holiday resort in Cornwall and living onsite with his dogs for around eight months before a change in management led to a sudden rule change banning pets. He said he was given just two weeks to find alternative arrangements. Faced with the prospect of losing his pets, Mike said he chose to walk away from his job and accommodation instead. He is now 54 days into a journey he hopes will eventually take him from Cornwall to Scotland, covering around 500 miles. Despite his situation, Mike said the journey has been transformative.

Speaking to the Echo, Mike said: “Choosing my dogs was quite easy. But the whole process of what I was going to do if I was made homeless and sleeping on the streets was quite daunting. I thought, I’ve always wanted to go and see the orcas, so I just did it.” After contacting Cornwall Council, Mike said he was told he would likely be without accommodation for at least three months. Now officially homeless, he decided to “turn a setback into an opportunity” and set off on foot. He said: “In theory, I have nowhere to go. All my stuff is in storage in Cornwall. If I went back, I’d still be in the same boat, waiting for accommodation. My time was running out. I was watching people online doing these crazy hikes and I thought I’d give it a go. I didn’t know what to expect when I started the walk but I didn’t know it was going to be this amazing. The walk has been incredible, I’ve had the best 54 days of my life. I’ve never felt so free; it feels like an adventure even though I’m homeless. I’ve met so many generous people.”

Mike is walking with his dog Willow, a German Shepherd Chow Chow cross, who has been fully supported along the route through donations linked to animal welfare charity StreetVet. The organisation, which provides veterinary care, food and support for the pets of people experiencing homelessness, has also kept in regular contact throughout his journey and have been “crucial”. Mike has also been documenting his journey on social media, where followers have helped support him with care packages delivered to InPost lockers, along with occasional hotel stays and food donations. He said: “The hospitality and generosity of the people has humbled me, it really has. We stop in pubs for water and to charge my phone, and they often feed us and send us on our way. Costa Coffee has also been incredible.”

Mike recently spent two nights in Liverpool, describing the city as one of the highlights of his journey: “Liverpool is the cleanest city I’ve ever been to. I’m from Manchester and there’s rubbish all over the street. But Liverpool is neat and tidy; it felt like a happy place to be and it was one of the places I was looking forward to the most. It’s an incredible city.” Speaking on some of the challenges homeless people face, Mike said: “You get judged a lot. Even though I’m on a hike, and I’ve got signs all over my backpack, I still look homeless when I’m walking. You get some people asking if you need anything, and then others who give you the weirdest looks and ask you to move on.”

Mike was also travelling with a second dog, Bella, a Shih Tzu, who is currently staying with a friend due to the difficulty of the journey. Looking ahead, Mike says he is focusing on the present rather than planning too far ahead. He said: “I’m living in the present at the moment. I know I can’t live this life forever and I know I have to go back to the real world one day. But if my socials blow up, we could turn it into a massive adventure and travel the world.”