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Ever seen a homeless person and wanted to help? Lisa Howells did just that in October and had a harsh lesson about the realities of escaping the streets.

Heading to the Tube after a night out, I saw a woman, Jenny, begging for money, a Rottweiler lying by her side.

As I often did, I bought them some food, but when I gave it to her, the huge dog snapped at me.

He had a muzzle on, so I kept all my fingers, but I asked the apologetic woman why he'd reacted like that.

"This is Oscar. He is my protector," she said, ruffling the now-docile dog's fur.

"Every night, I get violence and abuse, but he keeps troublesome people away. Still, I don't remember the last time I wasn't afraid."

Back at home, I couldn't stop thinking about Jenny.

:: 'Homelessness crisis is like fighting a losing battle'

She's only 38 years old and she told me she'd been homeless for two years after running away from a violent partner.

Wanting to do something for her, I set up a JustGiving page.

My target was £200, just to give her a break, but overnight, my friends raised more than £700.

I realised we had a chance to get Jenny off the street. Or so I thought.

When I told Jenny what I had done, she could barely get her head around it.

She was so used to life on the streets, she couldn't see how she could be so lucky that someone wanted to help her get herself back together.

She broke down in tears and for days after, she kept "waiting for a catch". But there wasn't one - I just wanted to help.

Jenny spoke to an outreach worker for a local charity who found her a privately rented flat that would take her and Oscar. I used the cash to pay a deposit and six-week's rent.

Soon after that, Jenny reached out to an old employer and got a job in the hotel industry.

But, over the following weeks, I got a sobering insight into how hard it is to get back on your feet.

It would be five weeks before Jenny got paid. How was she going to make her rent every week in the meantime?

:: Govt accused of 'unacceptable complacency' on homelessness in damning report

"I don't want to lose what I've got now," she told me, desperation in her voice.

"I won't let that happen," I said, with a confidence I didn't feel.

I work as a magazine journalist and just about cover my own expenses every month. I had no idea how I was going to cover hers too.

Desperate for cash, I started selling anything I could on eBay.

What was more important? A pair of Louboutin shoes (my one-and-only luxury possession) or a week's rent? I sold my Louboutins.

I've relied so much on my friends sharing and the response has been phenomenal.

Overwhelmingly, people have dug deep and told me they have been inspired seeing someone's life change right in front of them.

I've also been supported by work colleagues, who have given Jenny bags of toiletries and clothes vouchers, and held cake and book sales to raise money.

But it's a struggle.

We've spent everything we've raised so far on all the normal expenses like travel to work, gas, electricity, rent and food.

Plus, we have had emergency expenses.

Two years on the street, without access to medical or dental care, have really taken their toll and we had to find £200 when Jenny developed a really painful infected tooth abscess.

To make things worse, Oscar was recently diagnosed with a malignant tumour, and we can't afford the vet fees to treat him.

Right now, I'm £800 overdrawn from trying to keep Jenny afloat.

It will take another few months until she can sort herself out. I'm scared she could lose everything she has worked so hard to build back up if we don't get more help.

I do wonder why I started this whole thing.

I'm in debt, stressed out, and have had to drastically cut down on Christmas presents.

It also seems like such a small thing when the problem of homelessness is so tragically huge.

I remember asking myself that first morning: "What difference is helping one person going to make?"

But Jenny answered that for me yesterday.

"I have that feeling again, that I am part of the world, that I matter," she said.

To her, the difference was everything and I'm going to carry on helping as long as I possibly can.

As much as I have changed Jenny's life, this whole experience has changed mine, too.

:: To donate to support Jenny's cause, visit