Catherine was working in tech marketing when her company downsized. She lost her job, and soon enough, her accommodation. That’s when The Passage stepped in.
How Catherine became homeless after losing her job
“It all happened so fast. I was working for a company in cybersecurity tech. Things were going fine. Then at the end of last year, the founder and CEO retired, new management got brought in and they decided to restructure.
I got hit by both sides. At the same time as I lost my job, I was handed a section 21 – given two months to leave my accommodation. I could have stayed, but the landlord was threatening legal action, and at that stage I just had to get out of that place.
Seemingly overnight, I had no job, no income and nowhere to stay. I was just like, ‘Wow, what the heck is happening right now?’
I went to my council about it, to make sure that I wouldn’t be left on the streets. However, because I didn’t fit the vulnerable definition criteria, the council basically told me that their hands were tied.
Thankfully the guy who was my caseworker had heard of The Passage. I was literally going to be left on the streets and he didn’t want that for me. He made a call to The Passage, and that’s where it all started.
From homelessness to stability
That same day as I walked through the doors, I was placed in temporary accommodation, at a facility over at Kingsbury, in a quiet, old, converted office building which housed a few other residents. I was just so thankful to have a roof over my head for the night. I stayed there for a few weeks while the staff at The Passage went through the process of finding me my own accommodation.
At the end of April this year, I moved into my own place, in Hillingdon, west London. I think there’s seven of us in the entire place. It’s a pretty nice area, a decent sized room, and we have a shared kitchen. It’s really great so far.
Some of us are still dependent on universal credit. Others, like me, are in the process of getting off it, as we’re back and working again. I’ve recently resumed my career, doing marketing in the technology sector.
I still talk to my caseworker at The Passage, she checks in to make sure that now I’m in private rented accommodation, everything is going smoothly and there are no mishaps.
“My experience tells me that homelessness can happen to anybody, even to those of us who have worked for years.”
I know it seems like there’s a massive taboo around the concept of joblessness and homelessness and needing help from the benefits system. But the reality is it’s there to help you for a reason and there should be no shame in it.
I’m very grateful for The Passage, helping me out of a situation I could never once have imagined for myself.
A message from Christabel, Housing Needs Service Manager
I have oversight of two services which are distinct but interconnected in how they function. Resettlement is the first point of contact for a service user, when accessing support at The Passage. We work hard to provide support in resolving any area of need identified and agree a plan towards securing accommodation. This involves referring to our Housing Needs service for access to private rented accommodation. The team here support the service user to identify suitable accommodation and provide tenancy sustainment support after the client has been accommodated.
Overseeing these two teams provides me with unique insight into the delivery of support. In developing each service, my focus is centred on the service users experience. My aim is for them to have a positive experience of the holistic support given, that not only resolves their homelessness, but helps to improve their personal well-being and empowers them to reintegrate into society with confidence.
Catherine’s story is an example of how our support can help someone rebuild their life and move forward with confidence and stability.
Note: Names and details have been changed to protect her identity.