“It was a very bad time, because we were good friends. He was more like a Dad, as well as a landlord. He’d helped me out with some bad times in my life, and I’d helped him out with some bad times in his.”
On top of dealing with the immense grief of Fred’s passing, Ian also had to deal with the task of finding a new place to live. This is hard to begin with, with a very competitive and expensive housing market, along with the difficult administrative tasks involved, but Ian faced other barriers too.
“I knew eventually, the family would need to sell the house. So, I found Bonnie, which was helpful, because she helped me to start looking for places. I didn’t know where to start. I’m a bit dyslexic as well, so I needed that help and support.”
Ian is unable to work due to multiple health conditions, meaning he has little in savings or available to him. And with the deposits and rent-in-advance needed to secure a property being so high, this was a daunting barrier to face.
“I was panicking a bit, but then I rang Bonnie and told her I’d seen a place, and that’s when she got the ball rolling.”
Bonnie’s support to Ian was vital. With her expertise as a frontline worker at My Blackpool Home, she was able to guide Ian, who was going through a very difficult time. She empowered him to find somewhere to live, and helped break down the barriers – helping with forms and applications, and eventually applying to St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity for a grant to allow him to access it. Bonnie said,
“It’s a big chunk of money to find a deposit, rent-in-advance. The council has some funding, and we also use independent organisations like St Martin’s.”
Ian was awarded £450, which meant he could secure his new home. The grant not only enabled Ian to move, but it removed the pressure and worry of where he would find the money to cover the rent-in-advance required.
“It was a big, big help. It felt brilliant to be able to say I can get the keys now finally, and I can try to make things normal again. But it’s still hard. It’s still taking time to get used to being on my own again. I just have to go each day as it goes, it’s all I can do.”
Ian is now settled in his new home, though still managing his grief and his mental health. In his free time, he’s able to engage in his hobby of metal-detecting – well-suited to a flat on Blackpool sea front.
“I’m right near the sea front. It’s good if you’re not feeling too bad or too ill, you can get down on the sea front, or have your family visit there.”
