Izzy’s Story

Losing a child can have a catastrophic effect on a person's mental health. For Izzy, losing her baby was a catalyst for change.

At 15 years old, Izzy left her family home. Her house had a chaotic environment, one where she had suffered years of emotional and physical abuse. There came a point when she'd had enough. Living on the streets, Izzy was isolated. She didn't have a support network around her and she turned to unhealthy substances as a way of coping. When she was at her most vulnerable, she became pregnant and her child was taken into care.

From the moment Izzy walked through our doors at Homeless Oxfordshire, we worked on her strengths. We found that she had a flair for creative writing, so we encouraged her to start journaling.

We developed her literacy skills, and she found that reading books helped her to relax when she was feeling anxious. Slowly over time, she developed the confidence and self-belief to apply for jobs and begin to live independently.

Five years on, Izzy has full-time employment and the future feels exciting. She still has counselling to help her to cope with her memories and experiences. But for the first time in her life, she is thriving and rebuilding relationships with her child.

We were only able to help Izzy with your support and many others still need your help...

Just £25 would enable us in this time of crisis to carry on providing stable, positive & safe accommodation, individual support, exercise, self-belief and calm emotions.

Help us to end homelessness not just manage it

Please make a one-off or regular donation today