Background
M, a long-term service user, came to The Hope Hub (THH) in September 2022 after leaving her rented accommodation. She felt unsafe and harassed by her live-in landlord, which left her with no choice but to leave. With nowhere else to go, M began sofa-surfing with a friend in Camberley. Though she wasn’t in rent arrears, she couldn’t work due to an injury that had forced her to leave her job in the care sector.
Crisis & Empowerment Support
Since M wasn’t fleeing a partner, she didn’t qualify for domestic abuse housing support, even though she couldn’t return to her previous accommodation. We redirected her mail to THH and our Day Services offered her a safe space each day, where she could access meals and attend various wellbeing courses. These courses helped her manage feelings of isolation and build essential life skills through programs like the Living Well budgeting and tenancy course.
Our Empowerment Case Worker provided one-on-one support, helping M organise her paperwork and communicate with relevant services. With her housing situation unresolved, this ongoing support gave M a sense of stability and reassurance during a highly stressful time.
For nine months, THH continued to assist M in searching for safe accommodation. Finally, in July 2023, we helped her secure a one-bedroom flat in Bagshot. Since she’d left all belongings behind, we applied for a home starter pack through BESOM and the Surrey Crisis Fund, enabling her to furnish her new home. Our team also helped her register with a local doctor in Bagshot, ensuring her ongoing well-being.
How We Made a Difference
This story highlights the isolation and vulnerability that can come from leaving an unsafe home. With The Hope Hub’s support, M maintained emotional stability throughout her months of uncertainty. Today, she is safe and settled in her new home and continues to make progress.
Note: To protect privacy, stock photos have been used in our Success Story images.