James’s story is one of moving from experiencing homelessness to hope, where, with help from his Support Worker, he was able to make a fresh start and begin to rebuild his life.
James became homeless due to a relationship breakdown and was found in High Wycombe by our Buckinghamshire Rough Sleeper Outreach Service. This service is aimed at those who are experiencing street homelessness; they verify that people are sleeping rough and then support them on their journey to long-term accommodation.
The Rough Sleeper Outreach Team were able to start helping James straight away. They provided him with a food package and arranged an emergency bedroom within two days of finding him sleeping outside. Whilst in the emergency bedroom, his Support Worker registered him with a GP and attended his initial appointments with him. To help James become more financially independent, the team offered to assist him with his Universal Credit claim as he was not receiving any income at the time and helped him complete referral applications for supported housing accommodation. Soon after, he found a room in a private rented house share in High Wycombe and was encouraged to apply for the Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme, which was successful. This scheme guarantees the deposits required by private landlords to secure a tenancy and is particularly important for our clients as it addresses the challenge where, without a permanent address, it is very difficult to get a job and set up a bank account. This was an important stepping stone for James, helping him to gain more independence and stability in his life.
On the day James moved into the property, our Rough Sleeper Outreach Team were on hand to ensure that everything was in place for him. They helped him move all his belongings and assisted with completing the paperwork required for the move. This included updating his Universal Credit Online Account, ensuring rent was paid directly to the landlord, supporting him with the tenancy agreement, and advising James on further steps to ensure his tenancy was stable and manageable. James was given a ‘New Home Starter Pack’ to ease his transition, and he was referred to the High Wycombe Central Aid Furniture Project and Helping Hand so he could choose second-hand furniture and white goods for his new accommodation. This gave him a sense of feeling at home – something he had not felt in a long time. To ensure he was not feeling overwhelmed and was comfortable with all the new changes in his life, his Support Worker met with him twice a week to address any concerns or worries he had, as well as helping him with his weekly budgeting.
At this point in James’s journey, he was struggling to find work. This really took a toll on his mental health as he enjoys keeping busy and using his time positively. His Support Worker suggested that he start volunteering to find more fulfilment in his life. He applied to volunteer at his local Food Hub, starting off with a couple of shifts a week and progressing to volunteering full-time.
James’ confidence has grown tremendously. Through volunteering he has made new friends and now has two interviews lined up for Performing Arts teaching jobs – a field he worked in for many years before becoming homeless. James is extremely grateful for all the help he has received from Connection Support, and for the skills he has developed. Now, James is looking forward to making the most out of this new beginning.
* Client’s name has been changed to protect their identity.
