“I’ve been homeless since March, people have been saying to come down here and I did do a few months ago. One of the people at the centre, Clare, got in touch with Universal Credit so I came here for a meeting with them and had a good talk. She got me in touch with NPRAS [the city council’s private-rented assistance scheme], they’re looking to get me accommodation at the minute. It’s gone very quick over the last month.
“I’m a bit apprehensive because it’s going to be shared accommodation, so I don’t know who’s going to be there with me, I suffer with anxiety, depression and mental health. So hopefully in 2-3 weeks times I’ll have a roof over my head. I’ve been sleeping rough mainly in a park. My first night sleeping rough in town someone tried to pickpocket me while I was asleep, so I now spend [the nights] further out of town.”
We first met David* when he was referred to Emmanuel House’s Wellbeing Support Team by a local organisation that supports people with Severe and Multiple Disadvantages (SMD).
He had been sofa surfing for months after a relationship breakdown. He was admitted to hospital due to his anxiety and depression, but when he was discharged, he still had nowhere to stay, so he was sleeping on friends’ sofas or sleeping rough in the city centre. During his first night on the streets, two people attempted to steal from him, so he moved to a quieter, safer space outside of town.
David was working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to sort out his benefits and Universal Credit payments. Their safeguarding officer was becoming increasingly worried about him and he was referred to our Wellbeing Support Team, which supports people who are homeless, with a focus on their emotional wellbeing.
He started coming to Emmanuel House to meet our Wellbeing Support Worker Clare, who encouraged him to attend the morning drop-in service for breakfast and a shower. He also attended our weekly Men’s Group.
Clare went with David to a benefits meeting and she ensured they discussed his health and housing needs. They agreed that housing was a priority, which would then provide a solid foundation from which to address his other needs.
Clare worked hard to find him accommodation. She arranged for the local council’s Rough Sleeper Move-On Coordinator to do a housing assessment for David at Emmanuel House. He was referred to Nottingham Private Rental Assistance Scheme (NPRAS) and they arranged viewings for shared accommodation. After two months’ working together, Clare supported David to move into a shared house.
Clare is continuing to support David with his mental health and wellbeing. He has recently taken up wood carving, which is a distraction from his anxiety. They talk about how he’s feeling and she supports him at his mental health appointments. She also continues to work closely with the DWP to ensure he’s getting the right benefits, which help him with day-to-day living. He would love to return to working as a welder and hopes to find a home of his own.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
The Wellbeing Support Team is currently funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, but our drop-in service David accessed is self-funded. Supporting our Winter Appeal enables you to contribute to this vital work. We receive no statutory funding for these core services, so we heavily rely on our Winter Appeal to sustain the charity for the rest of the year. What little things can you do for our community?
