Background

PH is a middle-aged lady who has lived in Surrey Heath for a few years. Due to the loss of her private rented accommodation in 2024, she became homeless. She had been without settled accommodation having sofa surfed at friends for about a year before coming to The Hope Hub. Having exhausted all avenues, she found herself on the streets and made a homelessness application and the Council referred her to the Emergency Accommodation Service at THH. At the time of being referred she was suffering with her mental health due to her situation and felt extremely vulnerable.

Crisis and Empowerment Support

During her stay at the Emergency Accommodation Service, Team Hope Hub supported her during the day at the Day Service with meals, showers and laundry facilities. Her Empowerment Caseworker assisted her to apply for the housing register and once accepted she was very proactive using her time at THH and the EAS to bid for every suitable property available. In conjunction with this, the team supported her to look for private rental properties too. PH wanted to get back to work and was supported by the Employment and Support Coach to update her CV and apply for jobs. She also helped her with some promotional videos as part of the recruitment process. THH assisted her to purchase some new clothes for interviews. She engaged with the various living well activities on offer at THH, she enjoyed the cooking sessions and the arts and crafts workshops, where she realised that she was quite creative.

Outcome

PH found her situation hard and did her best to remain positive and motivated. She was grateful for being able to stay at the EAS and for all the support offered to her at the Day Service. She was offered a 1 bed property through the housing register and accepted by the Social Housing landlord but unfortunately, the property was void for a few months and so she had to wait before she could move in. Now that she is in her property, she is happy and loving it. She is starting to make the property her own by decorating it as and when she can afford too. She has had a few interviews and got to the last two with a floor company however, she just missed out on the job and so is continuing with job searches. Once settled she would like to help THH and support others who find themselves in a similar situation to her.