Client stories

We have helped many individuals who come to Spires looking to rebuild their lives. Many have emotional backgrounds and stories of why they needed our support. Here are just a few examples that highlight the impact of our support and work on many lives.

NB: All names in these case studies have been changed.

Stephen

Stephen visited Spires after being evicted from his home. His son had passed away and he was suffering with complex health issues. After sleeping rough for several weeks, he came to Spires. We provided him with washing facilities, food parcels and warm clothes, before successfully helping him move into sheltered housing.

His health issues were continuously being addressed and every week spoke with a bereavement councillor. He described the help he had received as ‘inspirational’, repeating that Spires has offered him ‘a new beginning’.

Through our advice and support, we helped a vulnerable man improve his physical condition in accessing sheltered housing, whilst offering him the opportunity to improve his mental wellbeing. He’s thankful for the support and is eager to rebuild his life himself to give respect to those at Spires who helped give him this new chance.

Kasia

Spires received a visit from Kasia, who was seven months pregnant and had been told to leave her accommodation as it wasn't suitable in her condition.

She had handed back the keys but had nowhere to go. Although Spires requested emergency accommodation from her local authority, delays in getting verification of her homeless status meant that temporary accommodation was not immediately available. Spires were able to fund a few nights bed and breakfast accommodation while the council made the checks necessary before they offered her a place. As a result, Spires avoided a vulnerable pregnant woman being left sleeping on the streets at night.

Accommodation was provided by the Council soon after, before she gave birth to her baby who arrived safe and sound with a member of Spires staff present.

Tracey

Tracey is originally from Eastern Europe, having been brought into the UK with her two children by her ex-partner with whom she had recently split from. Tracey was low on food and other necessities at her property and didn’t have much to keep her and her children going. Our local council suggested she seek support from Spires as her ex-partner had not been paying rent at their property and had become increasingly controlling and emotionally abusive, meaning she had major safety concerns for her and the children.

We initially issued food parcels before conducting a full assessment. We liaised with the landlord and calmed her with emotional support before referring her to South London Refugee Centre where she successfully obtained a temporary visa.

Following our advice, Tracey was soon entitled to claim benefits and was able to be placed into temporary accommodation in another London borough, being regularly provided with food and essential items from Spires to help her settle into her new accommodation, meaning her and the children were in a more settled position and felt much safer. Our women’s team continue to keep in touch to check on her and her children’s well-being.

Paolo

During one of our breakfast sessions rough sleeper sessions, we had a visit from Paolo, who was in distress and clearly panicking about being evicted. He had fallen into addiction, lost his job while his girlfriend and friends had left him due to his addiction. Our team successfully calmed him down, completed an assessment and agreed on a support plan for him.

We liaised with his landlord, who allowed him to stay at the property. We reinstated his housing benefit element of universal credit and advised him to start addressing his addiction issues so he can rebuild his life, which he began doing.

He secured a part time job not long after and attended Spires regularly to assist as a volunteer to aid with his development. Advice and support from Spires’ staff made a positive impact in sustaining his tenancy and helped him regain some stability.

Want to support our work?

These stories illustrate the real difference Spires can make for those who are facing times of crisis. If you felt moved by any of these accounts, and want to make a difference for others in similar situations, we invite you to show your support. Please consider donating whatever you can towards our work by clicking the button below.

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