Sarah moved into the Winter Shelter when was evicted from her private-rented tenancy

Sarah* became homeless after losing her job due to ill health, which meant she was unable to pay her rent. This eventually led to her being evicted from her private-rented tenancy and she had no choice but to sleep rough on the streets of Nottingham. Sarah has various physical health issues and really struggled with being street homeless. She was found by Framework’s Street Outreach Team in November 2023 and they referred her to Emmanuel House’s Winter Shelter.

How we supported her while she was in the Winter Shelter

Staying at the Winter Shelter meant she had access to 24-hour support, food, showers and facilities for washing and drying her clothes. Due to the stress of her housing situation, Sarah expressed concerns around her mental health. Our shelter team referred her to Emmanuel House’s Wellbeing Support Team, which supported her with her emotional wellbeing while she was staying at the shelter. They helped her fill out an application form for Personal Independence Payments, which provide financial support for people who are unable to work due to their health.

Sarah is now living in support accommodation

The shelter team also worked closely with Nottingham Private Rented Assistance Scheme to secure Sarah over 55s accommodation outside of the city. Sarah moved out of the Winter Shelter in March 2024, having stayed there for four months. Once Sarah’s accommodation was secured, the shelter staff made an application to a charity for a cooker and bed and other items needed for her flat. Sarah is managing her mental health and is enjoying living in her own accommodation.

*Names have been changed to protect identities.

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