Nathan* had recently been released from custody, and without a home to go to, found himself sofa surfing and living with relatives. Nathan had contact with Interventions Alliance, and his support worker, Susan, was keen to find him a stable place to live. Susan got in touch with Creating Change Housing, who provide supported housing accommodation for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Creating Change were able to offer Nathan a room at £72 per month. However, due to an issue with his benefits, this would have left Nathan with very little money left over. The housing agency were not willing to take this money from Nathan as they knew it would leave him struggling for money, so they decided they couldn’t take him on as a tenant.
This is when Susan applied to the VRF for a grant to cover the first three months of Nathan’s tenancy at Creating Change. Because of this, Nathan was finally able to move into a place of his own.
Once he was settled, Nathan sorted out his benefits so he was receiving the correct amount. This meant he had enough money to get by on while paying for his room, so he has been able to continue living there.
Nathan was thrilled about having a place to live independently. His home was newly decorated, with a new fridge and his own en-suite. He was no longer relying on relatives, and was able to make friends with other tenants – they even celebrated Christmas together.
Having a home of his own opened doors for Nathan. With a fixed address, he was able to access services to help with issues with addiction, and with his mental health. As his support worker, Susan, put it, “the grant he received from the VRF was a doorway to getting more support” – and he’s now moving forward with his life.
*Please note the names and pictures of beneficiaries might have been changed to protect their privacy.
