Hove rough sleeper turns life around after being covered in petrol in Wish Park

Mairead Soledad was living in Wish Park, Hove, when she was dragged from her tent and covered in petrol in attempt to set her on fire.

The 23-year-old and her dog Solo were helped by a woman and her child who were driving by at the time.

Mairead Soledad when she was sleeping rough with her dog Solo

Mairead, who is now living in temporary accommodation in Brighton, said that while the incident, which happened two years ago, was “terrifying”, it was the “catalyst for changing my life”.

She said: “I didn’t set fire thank goodness because the fire was quite small. I ran straight out of the park and a woman in the park tried to call the police.

“As I ran down the road, a woman drove by in her car and basically just scooped me up and took me to her home.

Mairead now with her dogs Solo and Pretty P

“From then on, I was put in hostels and hotels until Covid and then when the pandemic started, I was offered temporary accommodation, which is where I am now.”

Mairead came to Sussex from the Falkland Islands, a British oversees territory off the coast of Argentina, at the age of 18 after becoming estranged from her family.

She moved around the county, living in Chichester, Pulborough, Crawley and Shoreham before finding herself sleeping rough in Brighton.

Mairead with Pretty P

Mairead said the Wish Park community were “incredibly supportive”, particularly park keeper Gerald Flanagan who put her in touch with Karen Swift from the homeless charity St Mungo’s.

She said: “Gerald really made a difference to my life when I was living there. He helped me charge my phone and told me I could use the showers there.

“I met up with last week to tell how much I’ve changed since then and to introduce him to my new dog. It was lovely.

“I’ve managed to make contact with the family who helped me too and we’re hoping to go for dinner together.”

Mairead says she is now enjoying her life with her faithful Solo and her new Pomeranian pooch Pretty P.

The animal lover said she hopes that by sharing her story, she can help change attitudes towards homelessness and encourage people to offer help and support to people living on the streets.

She said: “How people treat those living on the streets was one of the things I found the most difficult to deal with.

“I’ve never lived in luxury, but I was always used to a decent standard of living before I became homeless, but everyone just lumps you together as worthless.

“It was difficult and plays with your head. Nobody choses to live like that, and people just have the attitude that the individual should do something about it.

“After just a year I had accepted that was how my life was going to be. It’s like you become what people think you are. But most people just need a chance.”