Carla came to The Connection at St Martin’s in April 2024, after twenty years of on-and-off rough sleeping. This time around, she was sleeping in a tent near the Strand, strategically placing her tent outside of restaurants with heaters, to try to get a bit of warmth.
She first became homeless due to a relationship breakdown, which led to a spiral of drinking and drug use. And from here, she faced two decades of instability.
Rough sleeping as a woman comes with its own specific set of dangers. As a woman alone, Carla was unfortunately well aware of this, and had to have her own safety on her mind at all times.
“I was constantly having to be alert. I used to drink a lot back then too, I was blocking a lot of it out.”
This lack of safety was a catalyst for Carla in approaching The Connection for support. When she did, she was assigned a key worker, Chloe. Chloe’s immediate priority was to get Carla off the streets, and into a safe, secure home. It took some time to build up trust, and build a relationship with Carla, and during this time she used The Connection’s services. She was able to access hot food and drinks, use the laundry room, and use the showers. She also attended The Connection’s women-only group on Wednesdays, a safe space for women to access support.
Once Chloe was able to gain Carla’s trust, she secured her a room in a women-only hostel in central London.
“If it wasn’t for Chloe, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Carla has now been in the hostel for a couple of months and is flourishing. She is making real progress towards resolving her alcohol dependency, receiving comments from so many people that she is looking well. She feels much better, too.
“I feel a lot better in myself. I had some negative experiences on the streets. Now I feel a lot happier, more relaxed, and more at ease with myself. Now I can look forwards, not back.”
At the hostel, Carla has found safety and stability. With her own space, she can look after herself, and crucially, have access to showers, cooking facilities, and a warm bed. She is also enjoying taking part in activities at the hostel, provided by staff at The Connection, particularly the art classes and gardening classes. She has been working hard on her progress, and is optimistic about her next steps.
“I think Carla doesn’t recognize her own resilience, and determination, and the part that she’s played. Really, it’s all been Carla – I’ve only been there supporting her, and giving a gentle nudge when needed, but it’s all her hard work.” Chloe, Key Worker at The Connection at St Martins
Chloe and Carla continue to work together, and they hope to find Carla her own place soon.
“I’m really looking forward to having my own place. I like my own space, and my own independence.”
Update:
This year, Carla has made huge progress. She’s been living in the hostel that the Connection secured for her last year and is now in her own room. She has been attending groups and activities, and even managing her own appointments. But soon, Carla is taking an exciting next step: moving into her very own flat! She says she’s looking forward to the peace and quiet, and the independence this brings.
Carla will be supported by Genevieve, a support worker from the Connection, who has already helped her get to know the local area and support services. Carla is now happy, positive, and excited for the future – and we’re proud to celebrate this new beginning with her!
