Singer Claire Phillips reflects on surviving homelessness: ‘It is something that shaped me’

Claire Phillips is an award-winning artist on the South African music scene, but her life was not always so glamorous.

After surviving childhood sexual abuse and battling with addiction, Claire was thrown out of her house shortly after finishing school.

With nowhere to go she found herself living on the street.

“I don’t speak about it that often, it is not something that I am immensely proud of, but it is something that has shaped me into who I am today… it is something that still stings.” she says.

While this was a place of danger, it was also filled with unexpected humanity.

Two young homeless boys took her under their wing and showed her how to safely navigate the harsh realities of life on the street.

“They were super protective over me, and for that I am so grateful.”

She was on the streets for three months before an old friend found her and took her in, which gave her the opportunity to rebuild her life.

To listen to Claire Phillips in conversation with Lester Kiewit on CapeTalk’s Good Morning Cape Town, click on the audio player below: