Gregor*, a former guest at the Welcome Centre and tenant of a Bethany Homes supported flat, shared his story about how this support helped him find safety, time to breathe, and a space to belong…
*Name changed to protect identity
I first became homeless because of medical reasons. I struggle with mental health and have epilepsy. There was a period where my illness was getting worse and I started collapsing a lot at work. Colleagues were finding me in different places, just lying unconscious.
I had been keeping a lot of the seizures to myself. I felt ashamed, and if people asked what was wrong, I would sort of brush it off because I was more interested in just getting on with life. Working just to pay for food and pay for accommodation. I wasn’t living, I was just surviving.
But I couldn’t deal with everything, I felt these problems were building up. I couldn’t answer my mail, I wasn’t answering the phone. Some people see problems coming like a giant ball, and they get up and they’ll just kick the problems out of the way. But some people just watch, and they let that ball hit them. Unfortunately, I’m one of them. Everything began to stack up… the doctor signed me off work and eventually I had to hand in my notice… I just didn’t have the money to keep up payments and I lost my house.
I ended up in the Welcome Centre because I had nowhere else to go. While there, I was able to go to the staff with my problems. They gave me a bed and then got me a supported flat with Bethany Homes.
When I went to ask for help from the guys at Bethany Homes, I was always met with a smile and no expectations. They knew how to help me. I didn’t have any clue about the benefits system or anything like that, but they sorted it all out. I’ve also met other tenants through Bethany. You bond because you’re in the same boat; you build a community at Bethany.
Now, for the first time in my life, I’ve had a minute to sit down and actually breathe, gather myself, gather my thoughts, gather my strengths. I feel a lot safer, I’ve got support in my life now. I feel a lot more secure.
Gregor is now living in his own home where our Move-On Support team visit him regularly to build community and help sustain his tenancy.
“Now, for the first time in my life, I’ve had a minute to sit down and actually breathe, gather myself, gather my thoughts, gather my strengths. I feel a lot safer, I’ve got support in my life now. I feel a lot more secure.”
By donating to our Winter Appeal today you can help someone like Gregor find community, support and a safe place to call home during these cold winter months.