Living in a five-bedroom house and running a successful business, Chris Lee and his family had a good life.
But after suffering with multiple health issues, as well as some financial problems in the following years, Chris suddenly found himself homeless .
In October 2016, he left his home in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham - before bailiffs could come knocking at his door.
Chris and his partner, and her daughter, five, ended up sleeping in their car on and off for four months, until a friend offered them a shed to sleep in, reports the Birmingham Mail .
Now, as they continue to work at rebuilding their lives, they have set up a project called Just the Ticket in a bid to help other people who might be going through something similar.
At the age of 55, Chris had a stroke, and was later diagnosed with prostate cancer. In the following years, his successful property company folded and he was forced to sell all his worldly possessions.
Chris, now 64, said: "We had the big house, the car, everything, then the perfect storm blew and it all fell apart.
"I had a stroke, which really knocked me off my feet, found I had prostate cancer then people I had really trusted let me down financially.
"Between 2015 and 2016, I saw everything evaporate before my eyes, cars, property, business and sadly people I had considered friends. Only one person stayed true, my partner.
"I sold everything I could to keep us going but it wasn't enough. Friends offered to help to start with but, when you have nothing, no-one wants to know you anymore."
Chris, who now lives in Stirchley and has asked for his partner and her child to remain anonymous, added: "It was like a vacuum of nothingness. I'd grown up with prosperous parents and had always had money in my pocket. Now I was wondering what are we going to eat tonight?
"I had absolutely nothing when I walked out of my house. I couldn't take my family photos, pictures of my mother were lost because there's only so much you can take with you. All those memories were left behind. I was ready to sleep under a hedge."
The family spent several months sleeping in their car in the freezing temperatures, desperately trying to find food and stay warm and clean.
Chris said: "We spent that Christmas in our car. Ordinary family celebrations are forgotten, it just becomes another day to try to find something to eat.
"I used to be a pilot with the air force so I know how to survive but for my partner and her daughter the hardships they suffered were horrendous.
"Keeping clean is such a problem when you're homeless. I have a masters degree but I couldn't get a job in a warehouse because I looked so dirty."
Eventually, Chris made the decision to relocate his family to the countryside, believing they would feel safer.
They went to Worcestershire, where they chanced upon a couple who helped them turn their lives around.
Chris said: "The city is a hostile place and, with a very young child, I wanted us to be safe."
"I thought it would be easier to survive in the countryside than the city so we drove as far as we could until our petrol ran out and that was Worcestershire.
"Then we met a farmer and his wife who showed us such kindness. They offered us their garden shed to sleep in. It was spring 2017 and was bitterly cold with snow on the ground.
"This gave us a fire to keep warm and we could walk to the farm workers' shower block to have a wash and use the lavatory.
"It may not sound much, but it became a palace, it gave us a little bit of pride back and the confidence to move forward and rebuild our lives. I shall be eternally grateful to them because without that help I’m sure we would not be here today."
To make money to buy food, Chris and his partner began selling logs. They were then put in touch with a team that helps to re-house the homeless by offering them subsidised rent and zero deposit.
The family still sells logs, and now rents a small house in Stirchley.
Now, they want to pay forward the kindness that they were shown by helping other homeless people to get off the streets.
They have set up a project called Just the Ticket - a discount voucher scheme that encourages people to hop locally and donate to the homeless at the same time.
Chris said: "Our idea is simple. We approach local independent businesses and ask them to generate an offer that will attract customers to their company – it may be a coffee shop that gives a cake for buying a latte, it may be a travel shop that offers 10 per cent off the cost of a holiday."
He added: "The shops pay for the vouchers to be printed and bundles of a dozen or so different vouchers are put inside a cover that explains the offers to the public. The books of vouchers are then sold for around £2 each by homeless people who get to keep all they take. It’s a win – win.
"All the vendors have a uniform and a stand from which to sell them so people can see it's true and honest. We hope it will help to build their confidence and their CVs so they can approach employers and say 'look I've earned this.'
"We're hoping our idea can provide a long term income and independence for those in need."
Just the Ticket voucher books are currently available in Northfield, Stirchley and Cotteridge. Vouchers include discounts at local hairdressers, greengrocers, vets and chip shops. Chris hopes to get big chains involved, such as Costa, Starbucks and House of Fraser, so that he can launch Just the Ticket in Birmingham city centre too.
He said: "It's only from being on a journey like this that you realise how desperate it is for some people. We got to know the homeless community from being a part of it.
"Yes, you might have your odd conman or rogue but for so many, it's just illness, divorce and mental health issues that have tipped them over the edge. Most are very respectable people that have had amazing careers and are homeless through family tragedy.
"You don't realise that once you're there, you can't get out of it unless someone helps you.
"The couple who helped us are amazing people. They are Christians who give without counting costs.
"You can have your nice big house and car but it's human kindness that's the most important thing. It's the most valuable thing you can have."
Chris is keen for more shops and businesses to get involved. If you can help, or would like to find out more, please contact Chris at hello.amazingideas@gmail.com