Leading UK homelessness charity St Mungo’s has launched ‘I Was Here’, a free national public art installation transforming traditional graffiti-style name tags into powerful visuals of survival and hope.
Created in collaboration with renowned street artist, Luke Embden, the commissioned artworks are inspired by the real-life stories of people who have experienced homelessness. The pieces are installed across London, Bristol, and Reading – the very cities where St Mungo’s frontline teams supported these individuals out of homelessness. The charity’s frontline teams support thousands of people every night who are at the sharpest end of the homelessness emergency.
Each artwork highlights how, with time and tailored support, recovery is possible. St Mungo’s proven approach is reflected in their impact – last year, 77% of the people the charity helped off the streets were not seen to have returned to rough sleeping1.
Each piece reflects the unique journey of the individual, transforming a simple statement of presence through the common street signature into a powerful declaration of humanity and survival. By scanning a QR code integrated into each mural, passersby can listen to the narrated stories of the individuals who previously experienced homelessness in these cities.
To inspire his designs, Luke used the real stories of four incredible people – Lee, Lawretta, Tamika and Ray – all who have recovered from the lonely and life-threatening experience of rough sleeping on the streets of London, Bristol and Reading. Based on their powerful stories, Luke created a bespoke mural to reflect each of their journeys.
Last Autumn, it’s estimated that 4,793 people were rough sleeping in England on a single night, a rise of 171% since records began in 20102. The support provided by organisations like St Mungo’s can be the difference between people remaining trapped in a cycle of rough sleeping, and being able to access the stability and tailored support needed to recover and rebuild their lives.
For Lee, whose mural features in London, it was being found by a dedicated St Mungo’s frontline worker during his first night on the streets of London (having slept rough in other countries previously) and brought into the safety and security of St Mungo’s emergency accommodation.
Reflecting on his experience, Lee said: “When I first became homeless, I felt invisible and completely disconnected. I wanted to share my story to help break down the misconceptions around homelessness and show that it can happen to anyone.
Today, I feel incredibly lucky. Just three months ago, I was on the streets; now I have a place to call home and can finally look to the future. Throughout it all, St Mungo’s has been my safety net, and I want people to know that support is out there.”
Elle Slater, Service Development Manager at St Mungo’s, said: “Rough sleeping is a lonely, dangerous reality for the people we support, but this campaign proves people can move on from homelessness. We are grateful to Luke for spotlighting the resilience of Lee, Lawretta, Tamika, and Ray. Hearing stories like theirs is how we change public perception about the people at the heart of our work.
Our frontline teams work around the clock, come rain or shine, to ensure that people facing homelessness can receive tailored support and access to the opportunities they need to rebuild their lives. This installation is an opportunity to listen and understand those on the frontline of the homelessness emergency. By sharing their personal interests and passions through art, they remind us that every person has a unique story beyond their circumstances.”
Street artist Luke Embden said: “Street art has always been about leaving a mark and letting people know that somebody was here. This project takes that idea and uses it to tell the stories of people who are too often overlooked, giving each person a voice and visibility on the street, which for a lot of people they may never have had before. Each mural is rooted in a real person’s experience, and I hope it encourages people to stop, listen, and see the individual behind the label of homelessness, and challenge the stigma our society attaches to it.”
Last year, St Mungo’s supported more than 28,000 people, with around 2,000 people receiving support on any given night through 138 specialist services spanning accommodation, mental and physical health care, substance use support, learning, training and employment services, as well as specialist support for women.
‘I Was Here’ is an expansion of the charity’s previous ‘We’re Here’ campaign in 2025, which was inspired by people with lived experience of homelessness and St Mungo’s colleagues working on the frontline across London and the South East of England.
Members of the public are encouraged to visit the artworks, listen to the real-life stories and support St Mungo’s work through donations.
London – 220 Bethnal Green Road, E2 0AA 0AG
Bristol – 123 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3RZ
Reading – King St, Reading RG1 2HE
