The week in numbers
Housing Crisis Team
24 Drop-in visits
9 New registrations
Supported Accommodation
31 1-2-1 Support Sessions
1 Move in / Move out
Drug and Alcohol Support
14 Attendee’s to drop-in sessions
35 People met during outreach sessions
The Story of Rajan *
Rajan first came to us in 2023, a refugee who arrived in the country on a marital visa that had been cancelled. He wanted help working with the Home Office to gain an independent visa and had a residence card and a right to work, but no state accommodation. He moved from one place to another over the next 3 years, mainly sofa-surfing, trying to find work, occasionally renting.
He returned to us this year after his last rental accommodation was deemed unfit for living and he’d again spent a week on a friend’s sofa, a temporary measure at best.
The search for work continued but the sporadic nature of temp jobs and zero-hours contracts led him to register for Universal Credit, a stable life-line. Once in the benefit system we were able to refer him to supported accommodation and he secured a 2 year tenancy.
He continues to search for those “gold-paved streets” and his grit and determination to make a stable life in the face of many setbacks is admirable.
* name changed
