What you can expect
Annie knocked on the door of St Clare's Day Centre, she was cold and wet from the night’s torrential rain and very frightened. The staff encouraged her to come in and after a brief chat found out she was homeless, bewildered and very vulnerable. The staff offered her a hot, cooked breakfast and suggested she first may want to have a refreshing shower and change of clothes. Annie remembered as she took her first shower in over 2 weeks how it felt like homelessness was being washed off her.
Whilst Annie had her breakfast cooked by the volunteers who work alongside staff at the Centre, the Community Link Team who are based at St Clare's Day Centre talked through the immediate options they could access to help Annie. As there were no foreseeable vacancies at the Direct access Hostel The Resettlement Worker initially draw from funding provided by the Rotary Club, to book Annie into a Local Bed and Breakfast who has sympathy with the plight of the homeless. The Homelessness Prevention Worker took Annie to the Bed and Breakfast to settle Annie in later that morning, and then started the paperwork Annie would need to complete, which Annie was grateful for as she had Dyslexia.
Over the coming days the staff form St Clare's were able to hold several interviews with Annie at the Day Centre and by using Support plans, assessment tools and reflecting on her alcohol use and mental state they were able to place her into Worthing Churches Homeless Projects' Direct Access Hostel. Annie had faced a number of trying and formidable issues over this first week. Things she had buried for years she felt there was light at the end of the tunnel. The Substance Misuse Worker had given Annie a "drinks diary" and Annie was able to see how she had used alcohol as a mask to her problems. The Mental health Worker had given Annie strategies to deal with her lack of sleep and chaotic lifestyle. Through the alcohol unit reduction advice she had been given, Annie was now starting to think more clearly about her future. Annie also joined the afternoon activities at the Day Centre and re ignited her love of art and enjoyed the games sessions too.
Soon Annie moved from the Bed and Breakfast into Worthing Churches Homeless Projects' Direct Access Hostel and along with the other residents started a programme of exploring a way forward. She had regular weekly personal key working sessions where a dedicated key worker continued to support her, reflecting on her needs and aspirations. She started to engage in community life and her fear began to ease. Annie was able to access a counsellor provided by Worthing Churches Homeless Projects who helped her with her journey into recovery. Annie was able to learn new skills by attending the cook and eat programme where she learnt about budgeting and general food hygiene. Annie even found time to volunteer in a charity shop and whilst there found herself wanting to re access some form of learning programme. She met up with her key worker and they sourced training at the local college for her to study accountancy.
With Annie's improving attitude to her recovery Worthing Churches Homeless Projects offered Annie the opportunity to move on to their Stepping Stones project. This project specialises in supported accommodation for residents with longer support needs. Annie had a key worker especially assigned to her who worked on her access into higher education and with the help of Worthing Churches Homeless Projects Funding Team found resources to facilitate Annie's course and materials needed. One delight for Annie was that at the Stepping Stones project there was an opportunity to go and cook breakfast at St Clare’s Day Centre. She was able to use her new found skills and as she looked through the hatch of the kitchen she reflected on the time she had first come into the Day Centre and how the Centre had been a life line to her.
Today Annie is in her own accommodation, she is well on the way to finishing her course at college. Annie still has visits from Worthing Churches Homeless Projects Homelessness Prevention Worker which helps her talk through her issues though they are considerably less now and feels she has a purpose. She still maintains her drinks diary and uses the skills and advice she acquired whilst using Worthing Churches Homeless Projects services.