By Trevor Baxter
A HOMELESS man living rough in a Greenfield bus shelter for nearly three months has found new accommodation thanks to a Good Samaritan.
Lee McCormac had been set to spend Christmas and New Year in his makeshift surroundings at the junction of Manchester Road and Chew Valley Road.
But the Saddleworth Independent understands he has moved to an address in Tameside after caring Rob Mark from Carrbrook, Stalybridge, helped publicise Lee’s plight.
New dad Rob, originally from Prestwich, befriended Lee soon after he moved into the derelict shelter and former toilet block, which was bought earlier this year by former Uppermill florist, Caroline Metcalfe.
She and other kind-hearted villagers ensured Lee received a regular supply of food and clothing, delaying planned work to transform the building into a café.
But to make conditions more comfortable generous duo Rob, 25, and brother-in-law, Nick Palmer, built the rough sleeper a temporary shelter to help keep out the bad weather.
GMP Saddleworth even tweeted about their good deed saying: “Well-wishers making home improvement to homeless man’s temporary dwelling.”
Rob told the Saddleworth Independent: “I first came across Lee about nine weeks ago, soon after he moved in. It’s not nice to see anyone homeless and I felt sorry for him.
“My dad, Jeff, had been diagnosed with cancer and to get my thoughts together and clear my head I would go for drives out, often past the bus shelter.
“I always remember dad helping the homeless for years and so I would regularly pop in to keep Lee company and bring him food.
“But I would notice Lee was always cold and wet so I thought about weather-proofing the shelter. We put a door on and a window in to make it warmer,” added Rob, whose father passed away on November 30.
“However, I could see Lee was still very low. So, I showed him a picture of my dad and told him how much he would have loved to have been here now.
“That seemed to hit Lee hard and he broke down and cried. I think it made him realise what he had got.
“Hopefully now he can get his life sorted and doesn’t need to sleep rough anymore. I know dad would be proud to see what myself and Nick did.
“There are always others worse off than yourself. And speaking to Lee I know he is much happier and in a better place.
“The support Lee received from people in Greenfield was great and he is very grateful. But Caroline has a business to run and she can now carry on doing that.”
Caroline, whose takeover of the disused shelter and toilets, was first published in the Saddleworth Independent back in June, said: ”I’m really glad there is a happy ending and Lee appears to have got himself sorted out and is in comfortable accommodation.
“I hope to set-up a ‘Just Giving’ page for Lee so he can continue to get the things he needs to ensure he gets back on his feet.”
Homeless charity, Emmaus Mossley, described the levels of goodwill from Greenfield villagers as ‘wonderful.’
A spokesman added: “We told Lee how lucky he has been to find support. We’ve never had as many calls and emails and people coming to see us as we did for Lee.”
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