Our stories: Homes with Support
We are proud to share some of the stories of people who have used our Homes with Support services.
Please note that names have been changed for confidentiality.
Case study
Feeling crowded
Background
Rebecca was privately renting, sharing accommodation with a close friend. When they both discovered they were pregnant in quick succession, her friend chose to move in with her partner. Rebecca was unable to do this as her relationship had broken down after suffering domestic violence from her former partner. Unable to afford the rent by herself. Her plans were thrown into disarray when her baby arrived early.
Facing the prospect of becoming homeless with a newly born child, she was referred to our mother and baby project. Rebecca struggled at first to adjust to her flat, often spending nights away and putting her tenancy at risk in the project. While the Squared team explained to her the potential risks of this as it could lead to the end of her tenancy, she soon discovered that she had fallen pregnant again with her second child.
Outcome
The Squared team acted quickly to move Rebecca and her growing family into a larger flat in the project, giving her more space and encouraging her to spend less time away from the project. Unfortunately, her pregnancy was more complicated, as Rebecca battled with ill health during and after her pregnancy which was very challenging with a young family.
The Squared team continued to support her through this, including helping Rebecca better manage her finances and clear outstanding arrears that she had accrued during this period. Rebecca found that finding a consistent routine and developing her living skills was hugely beneficial, helping her to feel more in control and take responsibility for herself and her family.
Furthermore, Rebecca shared her aspirations to explore training to become a Special Educational Needs (SEN) teacher, a goal that previously seemed impossible but now was becoming more realistic with the support and encouragement of the Squared team.
Wanting greater independence and having demonstrated to the team that she was ready to make the next step, Rebecca applied for a local council property and moved out of the project with her family.
Case Study
Beauty is on the inside
Background
Fatima arrived at Squared after experiencing a lot of instability in her life. She was living with her mother but was forced to leave her family home as she was battling addiction, and it was no longer safe to remain there. She found accommodation at another local hostel but was unable to remain at that accommodation when she discovered she was pregnant.
She arrived at our mother and baby project prior to giving birth but the team quickly identified a huge lack of self-confidence, a lack of essential living skills. With little support, Fatima wasn’t managing her money effectively and didn’t have the parenting skills needed to raise a child.
Impact
The team worked closely with Fatima by quickly identifying living skills she needed to learn. She progressed quickly, with her growing independence also leading to greater self-confidence.
After having her child, Fatima continued to develop more independence, managing to budget very effectively as well as begin to think of the future. The team discovered that she had a passion for working in the beauty industry, with this new career aspiration a sign of the huge progress Fatima had made in her self-confidence.
She applied and successfully moved into independent accommodation and has since begun working for herself doing eye lashes and nails, now looking to gain part-time work in the beauty industry to further develop her experience and help her realise her aspirations.
Case Study
Barred
Background
Emily left her family home at the age of 15, staying with various family and friends over the following four years in between staying in local hostels before moving into our young person’s project Pathways. After starting college, she quickly decided to leave further education as she wanted to work instead and earn money for herself. Emily found work as a bar tender at the age of 18 and enjoyed the work, it gave her self-esteem and purpose as well as giving her income.
Unfortunately, she lost her job during the pandemic, which was a huge blow for her. She had long-term struggles with her mental health with the Squared support team struggling to engage with Emily. Struggling to trust people and talk about how she was feeling, she became increasingly volatile and unhappy, with concerns growing after previously she had been arrested for street fighting.
Impact
The Squared team supported her with weekly coaching sessions, agreeing a payment plan for Emily to keep up with her personal contribution payments. Emily found it difficult to trust those trying to support her but the Squared team persisted patiently.
Over time, Emily began to talk about some of the relationships in her life. Her mum was helping to look after her son but this was starting to take its toll, with her mum being ill which was putting more pressure on Emily to look after them both. This insight greatly helped our team begin asking the right questions whenever Emily was visibly stressed, providing context for the team to better support her.
Emily also began to question the relationship with her boyfriend, coming to the realisation that this was having a negative impact on her and making the decision to end the relationship. This re-evaluation of the relationship and realising her own self-worth was incredibly empowering, which had a hugely positive impact on helping her think clearly and objectively about the rest of her life.
The team are delighted with the progress Emily has made, with her now moving into independent accommodation.
Case Study
There and back again
Background
Christine had become homeless prior to having her first child and came to our mother and baby project. With the support of the Squared team at the time Christine was supported to move on positively into a council property.
A few years later however, Christine returned to our mother and baby project pregnant with her third child. She had become homeless after losing her council house due to becoming a victim of domestic violence from her partner and father of her children.
Impact
Christine initially saw this understandably as a relief to be safe but also found it challenging moving into our project as it felt somewhat of a step backwards. Being a mother of 3, the Squared team’s primary focus was to help Christine rebuild her own confidence and support to her to build up her trust of other people again.
The experience forced Christine to reflect on herself and become more mature, showing immense resilience. She was also a great help to the other young mums in the project who she was able to offer advice and support to, becoming a strong role model for others living in the project.
Christine knew that she wanted to get back to work and has been building up a beauty business which can work around caring for her children.
The Squared team were very pleased with her progress and supported Christine and her young family into finding a council property where they may continue their journey to independence.
Case Study
A damaging dispute
Background
Siobhan came to Squared in 2018. She had just turned 18 when she was kicked out of her family home by her mother, after enduring a challenging childhood in a very unstable home. She had a history of mental health issues including depression and had suffered from suicidal thoughts.
Siobhan worked full-time at a local company when she moved into one of our houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) after becoming homeless. However she found herself in the middle of a dispute at her primary place of work after being informed that she had broken GDPR guidelines. The company instigated their disciplinary process which Siobhan at the time thought was unfair but didn’t know what to do as she was at serious risk of losing her job.
Impact
Siobhan found the prospect of potentially losing this job, which she had fought hard to get in the first place, very difficult and the Squared team became very concerned as her mental health declined significantly. Knowing her history of depression and suicidal thoughts, they made sure to be in regular contact and began discussing with her the nature of what had happened at her workplace.
It became clear that Siobhan had not had any training in GDPR, nor was she given any previous warnings by her employer. This immediately undermined the disciplinary process and so the team supported her to write a grievance to the company in line with their procedures.
Due to her declined mental health, the team advised Siobhan to visit her GP who recommended that she should take time off work due to her depression. Unfortunately, news reached Siobhan that rumours had begun spreading among some of colleagues around her disciplinary proceedings which further impacted her mental health and self-confidence. At this point she had expressed to the team a desire to leave the company, regardless of the outcome of the disciplinary. The team quickly made it clear that Siobhan would not lose her home regardless of the outcome at work, which reduced her immediate anxiety.
The disciplinary at her place of work was dropped and Siobhan decided to return to her place of work, which is now going well. The Squared team have seen Siobhan mature and become more resilient after going through this which will help her in the future on her journey to independence.
Siobhan is now in the process of looking to fully independent accommodation, planning to move out of her Squared home in the near future.
Case Study
Finding hair-mony
Amy’s story…
Background
Amy came to Squared after no longer being safe in her family home. She was suffering from domestic abuse at home, including physical assault, contributing to Amy struggling with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. Amy lacked the skills to be independent, which made her more reliant on those around her which only further compounded her mental health issues in what was a toxic environment.
Impact
The Squared team immediately began working with her, moving Amy into our mother and baby hostel. Amy was supported to begin facing her mental health issues, helping to build her self confidence and self-esteem. We worked with Amy on developing her budgeting and life skills, helping her become more independent. Amy began the process of rebuilding relationships with members of her family, benefitting from having stability in her own life.
Meanwhile, Amy was working towards her preferred career and completed her qualification in hairdressing. She has already received job offers to work but Amy is waiting for her child to be old enough to go to nursery. Nevertheless, this has given her a huge amount of confidence and self-belief for the future.
Amy has now applied for a council flat and moved into independent accommodation, with the planning to get a job in hairdressing as soon as her child is old enough for nursery.
Case Study
A nervous wait
Monique’s story…
Background
Monique arrived at our Mother and Baby project in early 2021 after being referred to us from the Branching Out Project in Luton. An asylum seeker who was waiting for a verdict from the Home Office to see if she would be granted settled status, the Squared team quickly identified that Monique needed support and advice in several areas, including developing her parenting skills and advice on managing her finances.
Monique was very shy when she arrived at our Mother and Baby unit. The Squared team began to support her immediately after moving into the project, though could quickly tell that the uncertainty of the Home Office verdict and soon becoming a parent were significant obstacles.
Impact
Monique quickly developed independence and skills around parenting and budgeting, keeping on top of her expenses. During COVID Monique was keen to develop academically and completed a course in business studies to expand her knowledge and qualifications. She was rightly very proud of this and knew this would serve her well for the future.
Through coaching the Homes with Support team saw Monique increase her confidence and self-esteem. Recognising that she was ready to take the next step towards independence, Monique moved out of the Mother and Baby project into Squared’s independent accommodation after being granted settled status by the Home Office.
After having another child she has now moved into private rented accommodation with her partner and children, realising her ambition of independence and building the life she wants.
Case Study
Building back better
Behzad’s story…
Background
Behzad arrived in the UK as an unaccompanied asylum seeker child with no support network. Speaking a specific Iranian dialect Kurdish Sorani with very limited English, he was homeless and incredibly isolated. Behzad had no means of contacting his family still in Iran for support.
Behzad moved into our emergency under 25’s hostel accommodation in December 2019. The Squared team quickly registered him with local healthcare providers and did an assessment. Behzad was initially provided with a map of the area as well as translated information locally, with the team supporting him round the community to help build his confidence which included food shops. The team worked to develop Behzad’s life skills such as cooking and budgeting to build his own independence.
Behzad was keen to develop his English and enrolled at Barnfield college in early 2020. He soon after moved into one of our Transitional Flats, giving him more independence. Unfortunately, his course was interrupted due to COVID-19 pandemic and was moved online. The team helped source Behzad with a laptop so he could continue his studies as well as a quiet, calm space to help him focus on his lessons.
Like many people Behzad found this period very challenging, struggling with the limitations of distance learning as well as the general lockdown rules we all had to abide by. The team was able to provide a safe but more flexible approach to both his support sessions with the Homes team and his college courses and referred Behzad to our in-house therapist.
Impact
Behzad has been keen to help others who were in a similar situation to him, both in supporting another customer who moved into Squared accommodation with little English and has helped provide feedback to the Homes team so we can improve our service. Behzad has volunteered to be part of recruitment panels and submitted questions to help us recruit the right people to support our customers in the future.
At the end of 2021, Behzad gained another qualification from Barnfield college in functional Mathematics and has since discovered a passion for construction. He has now been referred to our Purposeful Employment team, who can help support him to find a path so he can pursue a career in his preferred field.
After having his right to remain confirmed, Behzad now has access to the relevant benefits he is entitled to which will help support him through his education. Seeing his progress and his increasing level of independence, the team have supported Behzad to apply for Luton Borough Council properties and he has now moved into an independent flat to continue his journey.
Case Study
It's the hard knock life
Background
Annie referred herself to Squared after a relationship breakdown left her homeless. She was diagnosed with depression and anxiety which stemmed back to her childhood, where she was the victim of domestic abuse from her father.
The team quickly learned that she had previously been getting therapy with Luton All Women’s Centre. However COVID lockdowns meant the therapy switched to being over the phone, her progress stalled and Annie struggled to see the benefit of continuing. On top of this she’d just lost her job because of the pandemic, losing her income as a result.
Impact
After moving into one of our houses of multiple occupation (HMO) the team provided a range of support quickly for Annie, including referring her to sexual health services and our in house-therapy service. The team also worked with Annie to apply for a Personal Independence Payment to help her keep on top of her rent. This stability allowed Annie to focus on re-building her relationship with her mother which had become strained over a period of time previously.
Keen to become more independent, Annie applied and secured a part-time job. Seeing that getting back into employment is vital for Annie becoming fully independent, the team encouraged and supported her with this new opportunity. As well as providing a small income, it gave Annie a sense of achievement and independence which improved her confidence and self-esteem.
Seeing her progress, the team began supporting Annie to register for council housing, providing her with advice and practical support to get registered. Not wanting to limit her to council properties alone, the team also worked with her to apply for private rented properties.
Annie soon found a property and the team continued to provide advice and support around paying the deposit and understanding the tenancy agreement. She has now moved out of our HMOs into independent accommodation.
Case Study
Adapting to a new reality
Danny’s story…
Background
Danny suffered an industrial accident at work that changed his life. Unable to work and afford his rent he became homeless, sofa surfing for a period of time before being referred to Squared.
His mobility issues meant it was essential to find ground floor accommodation for Danny. He moved into one of our HMOs but the support team knew that the property needed amending to be able to work for Danny. Our support team also recognised that Danny didn’t have a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) set up which he was entitled to.
Impact
With the help of our team, Danny was supported to find equipment he needed and sort assistance from our in-house maintenance team to install the necessary adaptations to the property. He also applied for a PIP to help support himself and stabilise his finances. Now having some stability for the first time since his accident, Danny was able to fully process what had happened.
Over the next year the team continued to support to Danny to prepare him on his journey to independence, such as supporting him to fill out necessary medical paperwork for Luton Borough Council, with Danny soon ready to begin looking for alternative independent accommodation.
After participating in a bidding process with Luton Borough Council, Danny was accepted into a property and has now moved out of our HMOs, continuing his journey to independence.
Case Study
The climb to independence
Kaley’s story…
Background
Kaley spent most of her childhood growing up in care. She suffered abuse from her mother and was taken into care for her own safety.
When she needed to move out of her childhood care residency, due to being too old to remain there, she moved into our Transitional Flats in 2017 that provide support for young homeless people with a degree of independence. However, this accommodation is only available for homeless people aged 16-18, so Kaley then became homeless again. Fortunately, our team were able to offer Kaley a room in one of our houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs). Kaley continued to get support from the Leaving Care team as well as from a personal advisor along with that of our in-house support team.
Her situation changed however when she discovered she was pregnant as the HMO accommodation is a shared house for single adults only. Fortunately, we were able to move her into one of our dedicated mother and baby hostels to continue to support her to independence.
Impact
After moving to the mother and baby hostel our support team learned that Kaley had been the victim of domestic violence from her ex-partner and the Father of her child. The team quickly took steps to safeguard both Kaley and her child and supported her to get a non-molestation order.
Kaley was understandably shaken by this and struggled with her own mental health, having been the victim of abuse for the second time. The team worked hard to boost her confidence while also supporting Kaley to improve her life skills. Kaley benefited hugely from the supportive and close-knit atmosphere in our hostel and the team saw Kaley rediscover her self-belief and confidence over time.
An enthusiastic climber, Kaley began working at TOKKO youth centre as a climbing instructor, working with young people within their facilities. This provided a further boost to her confidence and was a positive experience.
Later in 2021, such was her progress, Kaley began applying for independent accommodation as she then felt ready to do so. She recently moved out of the mother and baby hostel into a council property to begin the next phase of her journey to independence.
Case Study
Separation complication
Martin’s story…
Background
After getting divorced and moving out of the family home, Martin had nowhere to go and couldn’t afford to rent privately at the time so became homeless. 5 years ago, Martin moved into one of our Homes Squared HMOs.
Martin was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, which initially made it difficult for him to come to terms with his situation while planning what he needed to do to move forwards to independence.
Initially after moving into our HMOs, Martin didn’t engage much with our team and struggled to see his way forward. Martin struggled with reading and writing which was a major obstacle and damaging to his self-confidence.
Outcome
Our team worked hard to build a good relationship with Martin over time to try to initiate more engagement from him. Over time our team built more consistent dialogue with Martin which helped the team better understand his situation and that he was ready for more independence. He accessed external support to help come to terms with his divorce and begin the process of improving and managing his mental health.
With Martin eager to progress and become more independent, our team worked closely with Luton Lets Squared to help provide the next stage in his journey to independence. He was supported by our team with completing all the necessary paperwork as well as helping Martin to gather a rent deposit to secure the property that was available for him to move into.
Martin has now moved on into a private rented property. He has maintained his relationships with his children and now has his own place to provide the platform he needs to move forward.
Case Study
Truth will out?
Aiden’s story…
Background
Aiden moved into our men’s hostel after a breakdown in his relationship with his immediate family. Being forced out of his family home, Aiden became homeless and isolated from those close to him therefore losing his vital support network.
When he first arrived at our hostel, the team quickly realised that Aiden was somewhat in denial over his current situation and unable to be honest with himself or others. Lacking independence and not being honest with our team also suggested to the team a deeper lack of self confidence and unwillingness to deal with the situation at hand.
Outcome
Over time working closely with our support team, Aiden begun to come to terms with his situation and engaged well with his Resident Coach. He quickly set himself personal goals, such as improving his self-confidence, while attending a range of workshops including around mental health and future planning.
The team also supported him to develop budgeting skills and has seen a dramatic shift towards becoming increasingly independent. Not only is Aiden now very honest and open about his past and his current situation, he’s also been eager to progress to become more independent. Demonstrating a very positive attitude and a strong work ethic, he is determined to re-build an independent life which has led to him re-kindling a relationship with his Father.
Having made huge progress at our hostel, Aiden has now moved into one of our HMO properties to continue his journey to independence.
Case Study
COVID, Cuckooing and Country Lines
Connor's story...
Background
Connor was referred to Squared by the Social Services Leaving Care team and initially moved into one of hostels. After a month at the hostel he was identified as someone who could live more independently so a referral was made for him to move to a HMO.
After a successful assessment Connor was offered a room and moved into one of our HMOs. He settled in well and was even helping to support other tenants moving into the house over the next few weeks.
Over time however it became clear that Connor was demonstrating clear budgeting issues, a result of binge drinking around payments days. After further investigation it became clear that Connor had mental health issues from his experiences in the care system. The team knew that Connor’s goal of applying to go on the housing list at Luton Borough Council and achieve full independence would not be possible unless he could improve his budgeting. On top of this Connor had fallen into arrears on his service charge which again would be a barrier to getting on the housing list.
Over the next few months our team supported Connor around his payment day, ensuring he completed monthly shopping orders which he fully engaged with. Connor quickly saw the benefits of going this and while he was still drinking, he was now spending less money and consuming less alcohol each month.
Regularly meeting with the team and utilising our drop-in service at the support hub, Connor had agreed to be referred to our Time to Talk service to help address his mental health issues. He successfully engaged with this service, improving his own mental health which led to him reducing his arrears and becoming more organised with his budgeting.
Following discussions with the Leaving Care team, we agreed for Connor to move into a self-contained supported accommodation as a stepping stone to independence.
Then as the pandemic and first lockdown took hold, our face-to-face support reduced. Connor began to become more withdrawn and isolated. Unfortunately, he then became a target for a drugs gang who exploited his vulnerability by manipulating him. Initially they bought him gifts and provided much needed attention, befriending Connor with the aim of eventually using his accommodation as a place to store drugs.
Outcome
By this point, despite attempted interventions by Squared staff, Connor in his own words was too deep in trouble to ask for help. Over the next month Connor lost control of his life, with the gang controlling what he did and where he went. He assisted them in their operations and even stayed in their safe houses. This included being forced to strip and being beaten up by members of the gang daily.
After a few failed escape attempts and afraid he would be attacked again or worse, Connor attempted suicide. Not long after this Connor did manage to escape and asked for help from some strangers. The Police and Ambulance services were called and Connor went to hospital.
Squared were then contacted by the Police and informed us that as well as being a victim of cuckooing, Connor’s gang were part of a wider County Lines activity. Upon leaving hospital Connor was moved to a hotel outside of Bedfordshire and fully co-operated with the Police.
Over the next few months we continued to support Connor remotely and by visiting him at his temporary accommodation. Working together with the Police, Social Services, Luton Borough Council, Local Authority Housing and his current housing provider, we’ve begun the process of rehabilitation with Connor, recently supporting him to register with a new GP and dentist.
Connor has improved a little but is still traumatised from what happened, his GP now providing further mental health support as he looks to re-build his life and get back on track.
Case Study
Pandemic plight
Chris's story...
Background
Chris arrived at Squared in late August 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris lost his job and accommodation in quick succession. A typical example of someone whose livelihood has been taken by this terrible pandemic, in the worst ways possible. A lone migrant, Chris had very few local connections in the UK and was struggling as to what to do next to rebuild his life.
Intervention
He arrived at Squared and began to build up his own network amongst the Squared Homes team. Chris engaged really well while staying with the EU migrant project, working tirelessly to get back in to full time employment since day one. He has now successfully moved into one of our HMO properties where he feels safe and supported, continuing to face the unique challenges the current pandemic brings.
To help him get back into employment, Chris has been referred to our Purposeful Employment service so that hopefully he can achieve his goals of complete independence once more.
Case Study
Recovering from the unthinkable
Ricky's story...
Background
Ricky came to us a broken man after being a victim of financial abuse, identity fraud and modern-day slavery. This combined with the breakdown of his marriage had left his mental health at the point of him wanting to give up. Ricky was quickly diagnosed with depression, moving into one of our HMOs in 2017.
When Ricky first moved in, he was worried that his previous abusers would see him and come after him, Ricky stayed in his room, keeping his windows and curtains closed at all times.
Outcome
After a couple of months of weekly visits from his HMO Co-ordinator, Ricky began to trust people again and engage with the coaching support being provided. His confidence started to grow and he was soon referred to our Time to Talk therapy service.
Ricky continues to show very good progress with the therapy Squared is providing, coming out of his shell and having the confidence to believe that he can still achieve his goals despite his past experiences.
Ricky has re-established regular contact with his children and committed to put his past behind him. The HMO team have witnessed a complete transformation in his confidence and ambitions, with Ricky clearly believing he is once again in control of his own destiny.
Such is his great progress; Ricky has now been offered a secure tenancy with Luton Borough Council so he can continue to move forward with his life.
Case Study
On the ropes to knockout blows
George’s story …
Background
When we met George he was awaiting a court appearance, following a long history of convictions. We believe that everybody deserves a second chance and offered him a place at our HMOs. At court he was put on an electronic tag and was released, returning to our accommodation.
After a few coaching sessions with his HMO Co-ordinator, it became apparent that there was some deeper trauma from his past that still haunted him.
Intervention
George was offered counselling with our Time to Talk service and has been a regular attendee. George has given hugely positive feedback, as over the course of these sessions he became determined to change his thinking patterns. He became more positive in his outlook and more ambitious in the goals he set for himself and his future.
After initially wanting to pursue support work to help others, he then tried boxing after being inspired by another boxer who had many similarities with him and his past.
Outcome
Such was his progress, the mother of George’s daughter reached out to him and was willing to give him a chance to reunite with his daughter. George now sees his daughter weekly and is now even more motivated to turn his life around.
No longer involved with the criminal justice system, George has now gone the longest period in his adult life without being arrested.
His boxing career goes from strength to strength too. After winning both of his opening matches, George has now been approached by a reputable boxing promoter. He can now see his career and his life outside of the ring moving in the right direction.
Case Study
Isolation to engagement with a musical twist
John’s story …
Background
John from Bedford was referred to Squared in November 2019 from the Luton Borough Council as a rough sleeper following a relationship breakdown and issues around drugs. We accepted the referral and completed an initial assessment. As a team we talked over the best way we could offer support and find appropriate housing that would suit John’s needs.
John was diagnosed with mental health issues namely depression and anxiety mainly due to cannabis use and family history. His father left the family home when John was a young boy and started a new relationship and family. There was some contact as John got older with John’s father getting one of John’s girlfriend’s pregnant. John doesn’t seem to have a great circle of friends, in fact, he never mentions meeting up with others.
Intervention
At first John didn’t really engage and avoided eye contact and hardly left the house other than to go to the local shop. He was picked up by his mum and step dad to go to Bedford at weekends.
John’s key workers took things slowly hoping a connection would build up, making a point of trying to respond to calls and messages quickly to reinforce he was supported.
John spends a lot of his free time developing his own music and we’ve tried to encourage him to join our groups run by staff. Due to his anxieties about mixing with others, at this point, he is not keen.
We also tried to support John to address housing issues and to get on to the housing register but John has no local connection and has not been living or working in Luton for five years so this has not been successful yet. We will be retrying after John has been with us a little longer. We will also be submitting a request for an application to our own Homes for Independent Living.
Outcome
John has managed to settle in well and is now engaging well with staff regarding health, relationships, music, managing his tenancy and accommodation to the point that if there is an issue in the house e.g. cleanliness, bins etc John will keep us updated.
We supported John to contact his GP with medication issues and offered one on one counselling therapy. It took some months for John to take this up but now his mental health has improved, and he’s started to look more positively at his future.
John contacts his key worker a few times a week and has started sharing his music over WhatsApp.
John is continuing to engage and working towards a positive move on, we are still offering support from in house therapy service. His mental health has improved but he still has periods of anxiety and with support he is continuing to manage his mental health.
Case Study
Motivational transformation
Kelvin’s story …
Background
Kelvin moved into a Squared property in November 2018. He was working at that time, but then lost his job after a month of moving in with us.
He became demotivated and resorted to smoking cannabis and sleeping all day in his room.
Intervention
Following weekly one to one keywork sessions, Kelvin was able to see a purpose in his life and made the necessary changes. In our sessions we discussed what Kelvin wanted to do, what was important in his life and what would happen if he didn’t address the issues which led him to be able to see the pain of doing nothing about his situation.
His engagement improved and he started doing his music more and looking for jobs. He registered for a security course at Diverse FM which he completed and became their best student for attending all sessions required.
He also showed interest in a gardening job at Cleaning and Gardening Squared and asked for support to fill in his application form. He was so motivated and actively looking for a job and engaging with his support worker effectively that he only needed minimum support and did the rest independently.
Kelvin was also signposted to several recruiting agencies and was given information on job vacancies online and in local papers.
Outcome
Kelvin passed his security course and was identified as having a positive attitude and given the opportunity to go on a CCTV course.
Happily, Kelvin secured a job with the gardening team at Cleaning and Gardening Squared, now becoming a reliable member of the team and really enjoying his job.
He has now moved on to a new house closer to work so that he can cycle.
He has also invested in some new recording equipment and enjoying his music, writing and recording.
He also has applied for a driving licence and plans to start lessons soon.
Case Study
Family tragedy to aspiring web developer
Jason’s story …
Background
Before moving to Luton, Jason was raised in London. He lived in a council property with his mum and older sister. His mum passed away in 2018 and he was deeply affected by the tragedy which left him feeling isolated. He turned to alcohol for comfort, which quickly escalated to alcohol abuse and this had detrimental effect on his oral health - his teeth became badly damaged. He accumulated non manageable debts to sponsor his habits and it destabilised him physically and mentally.
As a result of his mum’s death, Jason was left homeless. His sister didn’t feel she could look after him as his alcohol abuse and dependency had taken a deleterious effect on his mental and physical health - a burden she couldn’t bear. Attempts to help Jason were unsuccessful, in as much as, he would go in and out of rehab centres and was referred to several alcohol support groups.
Since Jason was now homeless, his friend invited him to come and stay with him temporarily in Luton. In May 2019, Jason’s friend supported him to make a self-referral application to our service. Jason was invited for an assessment and was accepted into our service, moving in in May 2019.
Intervention
Jason was allocated a Coach, who still works with him today. He attends regular coaching sessions and together they discuss the areas he needs support with, both agreeing a support plan through his risk assessment. Using SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-oriented) objectives, they looked at achievable goals to meet in a dedicated timescale and keep up with progress made as well as staying motivated. This type of support enables the client to express their needs and support them to make informed choices.
Jason was supported to apply for the right benefits, which enabled him to pay off his outstanding debts. He received further support and advise to set up a direct debit to pay for his personal contributions, in order to maintain his accommodation. Jason was also referred to Resolutions for his alcohol dependency and Luton Wellbeing for his mental health. He was supported to switch to a local GP in order to support his recovery as well as a local dentist to support with his dental care.
In September 2019, Jason was supported to chase up his rehabilitation admission for his alcohol abuse through his GP and Resolution keyworker and it paid dividends as he was successfully admitted into the Detox Rehabilitation Centre. The programme lasted 7 days and Jason, successfully completed the programme.
Upon completion of the Detox programme, Jason was referred to Luton Wellbeing for counselling, attending both face to face and telephone counselling sessions. The individual counselling sessions enabled Jason to concentrate and deal with his grief and how to find healthy pathways of dealing and expressing himself. Luton Wellbeing also supported Jason with his physical health by awarding Jason with a 6 months gym membership at Active Luton Gym. He found it difficult to get to the gym as it wasn’t close to his accommodation, so staff supported him in acquiring a bicycle through advertising on social media to better his commute to the gym and running his errands.
Outcome
In March 2020, Jason moved into our stage 2 accommodation and continues to be supported by Squared. Jason is currently waiting for an external cosmetic dental appointment through his dentist, to help fix his damaged teeth.
He has suggested that he would like to further his training in web development as he is currently self-tutoring online which has increased his self- esteem and confidence. He affirms that he has not indulged himself with the consumption of alcohol ever since his detox rehabilitation programme. Squared is working with him to find a more independent and suitable property in an area where he has family links and support.
Case Study
Anxious to help others
Tom’s story …
Background
Tom lived most of his life in a broken home as his parents separated when he was young. This affected him immensely as he struggled to deal with the daily demands of life. He started to sink into depression, until he got so clouded by it, resulting in him developing anxiety issues which he still has to this day.
As Tom’s mental health issues continued to escalate, he moved away from the accommodation which he shared with his mum, resulting in him being in a whirlwind of supported living services, who tried to help him, before finally ended up at Squared in January 2018.
Intervention
Tom’s support varied as his needs were not restricted to basic support needs. He was very much a recluse, always quiet and preferred it that way as opposed to being in the company of others. He would isolate himself from staff and other tenants, spending a vast amount of time in his room. Tom lacked motivation to carry out the most basic of chores e.g. cleaning up after himself. Squared staff resolved to support Tom with the cleaning of his room, at least once a week, to see if he could be motivated to do it himself. The support went on for a while until Tom, warmed up to staff and slowly began to engage himself with them. As a result of Tom started to gain confidence and could easily communicate his needs to staff. He was supported in how to budget his finances by setting up payment plans for outstanding personal contributions he owed. He also enrolled on a budgeting and mentoring course through his church. In addition, Tom was also referred to our Open Minds therapy service to support him with his anxiety.
As Tom felt inspired, he decided to enrol with a college to study for a Health and Social Care, level two Diploma in September 2019. He said he chose this course as he felt that he needed to help others.
Tom needed financial help for school essentials to facilitate his education and staff supported him to apply for a financial grant through the Buttle UK. Tom’s application was successful, and he was awarded the grant. This helped him boost his morale and mental wellbeing. Tom managed to buy a laptop amongst other school essentials, making it easier for him to do his schoolwork and studies.
Tom was also able to enrol at a local gym on a year’s membership to help better his physical wellbeing too. He was also able buy some clothing and household items to help prepare him for independent living.
Outcome
Staff further supported Tom to register through the council for housing and he is hoping to start bidding for accommodation and get his own place.
Tom uses his free time by engaging in various activities through his local church, he started volunteering helping him to develop new skills. Tom mentioned that he is happy and keen to give something back, as he feels that he was helped when he needed it. This year, Tom is saving up some money with the hope to go on holiday abroad with his Dad.
Case Study
Teenage dream
David’s story…
Background
David came to Squared when he was 16 following an eviction from another hostel.
In November 2018 David’s room was searched as it was suspected that he had a firearm and a machete. The police found a BB gun and machete and David was issued with an eviction notice which he successfully appealed and was placed on a behavioural agreement.
During this time David’s rent arrears grew and he was at risk of losing his accommodation. The team decided to complete a new working agreement which involved a new support worker who wasn’t aware of previous incidents, so they were not discussed.
As part of David’s agreement, he had to attend college and staff kept in contact with his tutor. They also spent time with him listening to his music and understanding his passions to build a rapport with him.
David was engaging but his arrears continued to threaten his accommodation. It became evident that David was missing a normal teenage lifestyle and was resentful that he had the burden of worrying about where to live which made him unaccepting of support.
When David turned 18, staff took him and another resident to the barbers to enjoy a haircut and a game of pool. A donation was made and he received aftershave and a voucher of his choice.
David was working well keeping to a new payment plan and was attending a new college and playing for their basketball team. Everything was going well for him and he was moved to our stage 2 hostel.
Unfortunately, he stopped engaging again so staff intervened to find that he had lost his place with the college as he couldn’t afford the travel and the payments towards his arrears. This was a huge blow as he expressed that basketball was his only passion in life and now it was gone. It became clear once a budget exercise was completed that David could not keep up with the payments.
Staff reached out to another team manager to get some advice on a Vicar Relief fund to clear David’s arrears. This was applied for and he was successfully granted £400 to clear his arrears. At the same time staff had applied for a BUTTLE grant to provide him with essential items to ensure he could keep up with his studies. He was awarded £1250 towards a bike, a laptop, clothes, music equipment and household items. Staff supported him to get these items which gave him a boost to keep going at college and focus on his music. He was keeping up with his payments, so a referral was made to our HMO (house in multiple occupation) team.
Outcome
David’s HMO assessment was successful, so he moved into one of our HMO properties and he secured a job at a warehouse nearby. David is now waiting to start his new exciting role and is living closer to family - he is happy and feels safe. He has all he needs to continue at college and excel in his music. David has a unique and impressive resilience to life’s challenges and leaves a lasting impression on anyone he meets.
Case Study
Paying back persistence
Carlos’s story…
Background
Carlos self-referred to one of our hostels after being signposted by his friend who was already a resident. He unfortunately did not have the appropriate documentation to prove he would have access to public funding as his tent was set on fire and all his documents burned. He was at great risk on the streets and presented as physically and emotionally exhausted.
The hostel staff and student social worker worked hard to collate enough evidence to prove he was eligible to access public funding by calling the Home Office, quoting his National Insurance and passport numbers along with other details too.
Staff then supported Carlos to apply for his habitual residency documentation to get the process started for him.
Outcome
Carlos is now safely off the streets in the hostel and all the work to help him access public funding has been completed by our student social worker. Carlos is keen to start English classes and has been making some improvements to the hostel to keep him active and occupied. He has completed deep cleans and filled and painted the communal hallways - the hostel has never looked better.
Case Study
Averting a crisis
William’s story…
Background
William self-referred himself to our hostel as he was living in a friend’s car. He was a care leaver in his late 20’s who had very little support and wasn’t able to settle and get the support he needed. He was suffering greatly with his mental health and disclosed thoughts of ending his life. He had no address therefore could not apply for Universal Credit.
Members of our Homes with Support team assessed William but didn’t have a room available, so initially they supported William to declare himself as homeless at the council. Unfortunately, he was initially informed by the council that he would not be eligible for emergency accommodation. Squared staff then invested several hours to advocate for him and finally managed to negotiate two nights in emergency accommodation. Staff managed to get William bedding and food for the initial two days while they worked on other options for him which included negotiating with other support teams. They continued to support William with his anxiety about his situation.
Outcome
Eventually a room became available in one of our hostels and William moved in. Staff have continued to support him by requesting an assessment for him with our HMO (house in multiple occupation) team. They have also supported William to apply for Universal Credit and helped him put a CV together. To help William with his mental health, he was also referred to our therapy service to help with his mental health wellbeing.