A Client's Story
I went from being a loving husband and father, breadwinner and homeowner to a suicidal alcoholic knocking on the door at St Clare's day centre. With no where else to turn I was at rock bottom. That’s what alcoholism does to you. Some might say it's a lack of moral fibre, an illness, genetic or hereditary. All I know is it destroys lives and I wanted to live. I had simply had enough!
I had become homeless in Littlehampton 4 months previously after spending a year as a full time carer to a friend who subsequently died of cancer. I had helped him through the bereavement of his wife of 52 years, his heavy drinking to block out the pain, the rejection by his family and the diagnosis of cancer. The end was quick and cruel. His family took over in the last few weeks, more out of a sense of guilt than anything else, but I was surplus to requirements. I had been living on carers allowance, which is a pittance and had been unable to make any financial provision for my own future. Besides, I was both physically and mentally exhausted.
I asked Arun District council for help with accommodation but they just referred me to an organisation called Homelink run by Littlehampton Churches. They in turn said they wouldn't help me because I had a drink problem. So that was it. I was on my own. Rejected and excluded by a society that I had contributed so much too. I bought a sleeping bag and made my shelters on Littlehampton seafront. I spent the next few weeks trying to sort out benefits and find a live in job, but without success. I remember going to sign on at the Jobcentre every fortnight armed with a rucksack and a sleeping bag. Apparently homelessness is no barrier to finding employment.
It wasn't long before I got to know other street homeless and excluded people in the area. We used to congregate in a shelter on the seafront that was next t an anchor. We christened it the Anchor Bar. There I met some of the most genuine and honest people in my life that helped me to survive on the streets. Sadly, some of them have died as a consequence of substance misuse or just poor health caused by homelessness. Inevitably, the police would arrive and issue tickets for public nuisance offences or any other excuse to harass and intimidate us. Anything to move us on so we didn’t offend the sensitivities ot eh locals and day trippers. You can be excluded from a society but you still have to abide by their rules.
Then one day I cracked. It was early December and temperatures were dropping to minus six degrees at night and not much higher during the day. I was constantly cold and tired. The alcohol was taking its toll and I couldn’t stop shaking. I had no strength left and I just wanted to end it all. I walked into the freezing sea. It was very rough that day and the waves kept knocking me back, but I kept walking until the water was at chest height with waves crashing over my head. I was told afterwards that I went under several times and I was in the water for 40 minutes. In the meantime, the police, paramedics, lifeboat and air sea rescue were in attendance at an estimated cost of £10,000. All I wanted was somewhere to live. A windsurfer dragged me out eventually. I met him a few days later and thanked him. He told me to wear a wetsuit next time.
I was taken to Worthing Hospital and treated for hypothermia, interviewed by a psychiatric doctor, given some dry clothes and discharged with a card for Worthing Churches Homeless Projects...
This is the experience of one of the people who we have helped over the past year, he is now living in his own accommodation and has made contact once again with his family. He says of his first few days at Rupert Bacon House:-
"I do remember feeling immense gratitude and I still do. Worthing Churches Homeless Projects had thrown me a lifeline and the opportunity to make positive changes to my life."
This is the difference that YOU make. By supporting Worthing Churches Homeless Projects, you help us to help people like this. Without the donation of your time, gifts and money, we would not be able to be there 365 days a year for the people who need our help and support.
Thank you!