For many residents of Homeless Oxfordshire, Christmas is something that happens to other people. It’s a reminder of the isolation and loneliness that homelessness inflicts on people.
Despite the challenges of their situation, with our support Homeless Oxfordshire residents manage to find little moments of hope and joy at Christmas.
Last week we gave you an insight into Christmas Day for Mark*, a resident of Homeless Oxfordshire in Banbury. This week we’d like to tell you about Jamal* and how his sobriety has meant he can be Dad again.
Here’s Jamal’s Christmas story.
Three years ago Jamal’s alcohol dependency was at its worst. Addiction takes away a person’s dignity and sense of control. For Jamal, it also took away his role as a father.
Determined to turn his life around, Jamal completed six months’ rehab and now lives at Sapling – our post-treatment abstinence project. He’s nearly two years sober now and on the waiting list for social housing. This month he’s taking his kids to see a Christmas pantomime for the first time, and over the holidays he’ll be sharing a meal with his family again.
Jamal got a second chance to reclaim his life. Everyone who comes to Homeless Oxfordshire for help comes with their own story and obstacles. We provide the safety and support they need to find their path out of homelessness.
Someday Jamal hopes to have a place of his own, where he can spend more time with his children. Last year at Homeless Oxfordshire we helped 138 residents move to accommodation where they could live more independently. With your support, more people can make the step towards greater independence and security in 2025.
This Christmas, a gift of just £60 to Homeless Oxfordshire could pay for someone like Jamal to access therapy sessions, and overcome addiction. By donating today, you can provide the resources that make moments like Jamal’s Christmas reunion possible. Together, we can create more second chances.
Donate today and make a gift that keeps on giving.
Thank you for making these moments of hope possible.
*These are the real experiences of some of our residents but their names and images have been changed to protect their identity.
