Man denied hotel entry in Manchester for being homeless

Homeless Man Denied Hotel Stay in Manchester

A man shared with Sky News how he felt small when a hotel turned him away on a freezing night because he was homeless.

Callum Donaghey, 30, was one of two homeless men booked into a Manchester Holiday Inn by a charity to escape sub-zero temperatures.

However, a hotel staff member refused to check them in, despite their bookings being paid for, due to their homelessness. This incident was recorded on camera.

Mr. Donaghey’s Experience

“It made me feel so small, because we’re homeless. [It] made me feel a bit categorised. Gutted,” Mr. Donaghey told Sky News.

In the video, the staff member stated: “It’s not a personal thing.”

“We know people. I’ve been doing the door for a long while. It’s the company’s policy. It’s not mine personally, it’s the company’s,” the staff member added.

Mr. Donaghey described hearing this as a “kick in the stomach really.”

He reflected, “From there, I thought to myself – bloody hell – same again. I was used to it, really. Getting knocked back and knocked back… I was upset about it, thinking I’m going to be out there tonight in -6C.”

Cold Weather Concerns

Temperatures dropped to -6C overnight on Monday, when the charity, Two Brews, booked two rooms for the men at the Holiday Inn on Oxford Road.

“I’m panicking now, majorly panicking, thinking I’m going to be freezing tonight,” Mr. Donaghey said in the Sky News interview.

He described the mental effects of the cold as “daunting.”

“There have been times when I woke up in this cold and cried,” he added.

He explained how the cold affects homeless people’s health: “Your toes get cold, your fingers are cold, bad chest, you know, you become ill.”

“Especially if you’re lying on the floor with no cardboard, the cold comes through your body… you end up with a really bad chest,” he said.

Changing Attitudes

Mr. Donaghey noted a shift in attitudes towards homeless people: “At the minute, I don’t really meet many people that I’d say are supportive of homeless people anymore.”

He emphasized, “It’s not about money. Sometimes it’s nice to have a little chat with someone and to feel human.”

Holiday Inn’s Response

A spokesperson for Holiday Inn stated: “After speaking with team members, we recognise that this incident is not in keeping with our policy of welcoming all and should have been handled differently.”

“We sincerely apologise to the guests affected and are taking steps internally to strengthen our training,” the spokesperson added.