A woman who endured violence, sexual assault and repeated hospital admissions while sleeping rough on the streets of Ipswich has spoken about the trauma of homelessness and the long road to rebuilding her life.
Lois Macdonald, known to many as Tink, spent years battling addiction before finding herself homeless and alone.
"My addiction had ultimately left me homeless, and without support," she said. "The most traumatic time of my life."
She said life on the streets exposed her to dangers most people never experience.
"Each day, or night, I would be a receiver of something awful. Sexual assault, beating, harassment, the list goes on."
At one point, Ms Macdonald was sleeping on the floor outside Subway at Cardinal Park in Ipswich. It was then that she met Gareth, the director of The Bus Shelter in Ipswich, an outreach programme supporting those who are sleeping rough.
"At that point I had already given up on everything," she said.
"No matter how many times I was sat before a judge, prison, hospitals, it felt like nobody cared, or could see that I needed help."
Ms MacDonald said Gareth "made it his mission" to support her, giving her warm food and helping her to reconnect with her family. She credits Gareth and The Bus Shelter for saving her life.
Years of addiction also took a severe toll on her health. She was repeatedly admitted to hospital suffering blood clots, blood infections and cellulitis.
"The doctors had told me on more than one occasion that I was lucky to be alive," she said.
Now, after attending rehab and rebuilding relationships with her family, Ms Macdonald is helping others facing the challenges she once endured.
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She said she still lives with severe anxiety, depression and other health conditions, but said volunteering for The Bus Shelter has given her a purpose and has helped her move forward.
Over the weekend, she spent two nights sleeping rough as part of a sponsored challenge. Although temporary, she said it brought back painful memories.
"Doing this sleep out for two nights brought back so many bad memories for me," she said. "But what is two nights when people out there are doing this 24 hours a day, for weeks, months and years on end?"
Lauren, who took part in the challenge alongside Ms Macdonald said: "One night of sleeping on a hard floor in the cold is nothing to the weeks, months, or years that some people are forced to do."
The challenge was organised by The Bus Shelter Ipswich during World Homeless Day to raise awareness and funds for people experiencing homelessness.
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