Real Life Stories
Nigel’s Story
I had always been a heavy drinker in my life, but it had never caused me any real issues. I was living with my father, who was diagnosed with cancer, which was about 10 years ago now. Sadly, he died because of it. I had to watch him go through all of that, it was…
Read MoreEddy’s story – a story of hard work and perseverance
Eddy came to us for help in 2001 after he was unable to stay in the Night Shelter, due to his age at the time. As soon as Eddy turned 25, he sought shelter in our old single-story building, where he slept in a dorm. At Homeless Oxfordshire, we want to end homelessness, not manage…
Read MoreEmma’s story – a story of survival
Emma first found herself homeless when she was only 14 years old. After a family breakdown due to domestic abuse, Emma and her brothers and sisters were living with their mother in a hostel; one room in a shared house. At this young age, Emma decided that it was her job to protect her brothers…
Read MoreIzzy’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…
Read MoreHarry – Client at the Vineyard
Please note these responses were taken from a phone interview with Harry* on 1st March 2021. Harry’s answers are as close to the original as possible. Small grammatical changes have been made for readability purposes. It’s the little things in life that you don’t always realise are there until they are not there. Harry* current…
Read MoreLucy’s Story – continued
Last year, Homeless Oxfordshire spoke to Lucy, one of the clients in our Women’s Project. We caught up with her to find out about how her recovery journey is progressing.
Read MoreRachel’s Story
Rachel is a client in our Women’s project. In her own words she describes how she came to be homeless and her hopes for the future. Becoming homeless “I was with someone who was stupidly doing heroin and I tried it. This led me down the path of losing my house, family. I was sofa…
Read MoreLucy’s Story – part 1
Lucy* is one of our growing number of women clients, here she bravely shares her experiences of homelessness, substance misuse and how we have been able to accommodate and support her as she recovers. “I first went into rehab in June 2015, because I’m an alcoholic. I was fired three times from the same…
Read More“I’m in a good place now”
After her flat was taken over by a new landlord, Penny* couldn’t afford the increased rent. Struggling with her mental health after a divorce, Penny became homeless and started living on the streets. Since sharing her story, Penny has moved on to independent living. “I’ve worked all my life and I’ve managed to live a…
Read More“Life finally feels good.”
Emma* came to Homeless Oxfordshire after escaping an abusive marriage. In one of our community properties, Emma had a safe space to recover and rebuild her life. With our support, she went back to work as a teacher and moved into privately rented accommodation. “I’ve been homeless twice in my life. The first time I…
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