# Richie Roncero's 16-year addiction journey

> Richie Roncero, a former cocaine addict, is deliberately sleeping rough to fund addiction recovery beds for the UK.
- Title: Richie Roncero's 16-year addiction journey · LADbible
- Summary: Richie Roncero, a former cocaine addict, is deliberately sleeping rough to fund addiction recovery beds for the UK. Richie Roncero, who struggled with…
- Keywords: richie roncero, cocaine addiction, steps to hope, homelessness, addiction recovery, charity, sleeping rough, recovery beds, funding, entertainment, culture, Richie
- Source: LADbible — https://ladbible.com/lifestyle/man-homeless-addict-charity-uk-news-lifestyle-148568-20261023
- Published: 2026-10-24T09:04:55.812+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: richie roncero, cocaine addiction, steps to hope, homelessness, addiction recovery, uk, charity, sleeping rough, recovery beds, funding, entertainment, culture
## Richie Roncero's addiction history
Richie Roncero started using cocaine at 15 and struggled with addiction for 16 years.

> i was an addict for 16 years and hated my life - now i'm living on the streets
## Psychosis and suicidal thoughts
He experienced psychosis and suicidal thoughts, believing people were sneaking around in his house.

> i used it regularly which led to psychosis. it was awful, i believed people were in my house sneaking about at night
## Turning point in recovery
He met a recovering addict who guided him through the 12 steps, changing his life.

> having a support network without judgement or fear was a real inspiration. it totally changed my life
## Charity work and recovery
Richie founded Steps to Hope, a charity providing addiction recovery services in Scotland.

> i was inspired to take action after witnessing what i said was a major shortage of residential rehabilitation space
## Rehab capacity crisis
State-funded rehab placements have fallen by almost 50% over the past decade in England.

> 329,646 adults were in contact with drug and alcohol treatment services between 2024-25 - the highest number since records began
## Sleeping rough challenge
Richie will sleep on the streets across 26 UK cities to raise £1 million for addiction recovery beds.

> i will sleep rough every night, carrying only a sleeping bag, phone, toothbrush, and 100 information leaflets for each stop
## Current fundraising progress
Richie has raised over £300,000 through donations and charity challenges to date.

> richie has so far raised more than £300,000 at the time of writing
## Challenges of the journey
Richie faces mental health struggles and isolation while sleeping rough for six months.

> my head is going while trying to prepare myself for six months on concrete. it's not safe, there's no guarantee, no certainty, i'll be alone and isolated
## Why he's doing this
He says people are dying on waiting lists for addiction recovery beds due to lack of capacity.

> we have so many people every day phoning to come in here. we are doing so many assessments and we can't turn beds around quickly enough
## Key takeaway

Richie Roncero, who struggled with addiction for 16 years, is sleeping on the streets to raise £1 million for addiction recovery beds.