This time last year Justin was living in a tent, in a village near Redruth.
His relationship had broken down and he found himself with nowhere to live, save for the thin canvas sheltering him from the oncoming winter.
Thankfully for the 51-year-old, help was at hand through StreetLink, who referred him to Coastline’s homeless service at Chi Winder, in Pool.
“The service has helped me so much and now I want to give back,” said Justin, originally from Plymouth.
“Everyone here has been so good to me since I’ve arrived – I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.”
Justin was initially offered a room in Chi Winder for several weeks, before he moved into Coastline’s nearby supported housing, where he has been living since January.
Music is his great passion – he has been deejaying from the age of 18, following in the footsteps of his father, who once performed at the Royal Albert Hall.
Justin often plays live sets on TikTok, using the handle of DJ Stormzzy, and he is keen to do more gigs for good causes in Cornish venues.
“I have a friend from Hayle who is a hula-hooper and we’re planning to have a chat about doing a charity event together. I love trance music, it’s my therapy.
“I’d also like to do a charity set at the John Daniel Centre in Penzance. So many people have helped me and now I want to help others.”
Justin grew up in Plymouth but has lived in various places across the UK throughout his adult life. Cornwall feels like home to him though - despite bearing witness to some spooky scenes in his former role as a paranormal investigator.
He says he was born with a “third eye” - the ability to see ghosts and supernatural forces – which were particularly visible to him during a visit to beauty spot Kennall Vale, near Ponsanooth.
He said: “There was an explosion in a dynamite factory there back in the 1830s and I’ve seen the ghost of a man called William Dunstan who was killed. I’ve also seen two children sat up in a tree and a ghost dog.”
Justin has more recently appeared in a promotional video for 7th Rise, an outdoor retreat which he visits to reconnect with nature on the banks of the Fal River.
Louise Beard, Coastline’s Deputy CEO, said: “When you meet Justin, what stands out is his warmth, his positivity and his determination to make the most of every opportunity. His journey over the past year has not been easy, but he has shown incredible resilience and strength.
“Seeing him settling, pursuing his passion for music and wanting to give something back to the community is wonderful. We are incredibly proud of what he has achieved, and his story is a powerful reminder that with the right support and a belief in people, lives can be transformed.”
This year, the National Housing Federation is staging its first ever Supported Housing Week in October. To celebrate the week, Coastline Housing is celebrating life-changing services and inspiring residents, to highlight the importance of enabling people to live as independently as possible.