Week 1 - Making a Difference
Week 1 - Making a Difference
Here are some of the stories shared by frontline workers on the theme of Making a Difference:
"I was working a shift and encountered a well-dressed male in a suit. He was sitting alone on the beach and it was freezing. In a few days I managed to gain his trust, he told me his story of having been taken advantage of and losing his possessions (house and money) to a friend after his parents’ passing. I worked closely with him, and he is now in his own flat, working, and happy."
"I attended every appointment with a client who needed help getting hospital equipment. Without our help, they would not have been able to make it themselves, as it was excruciating for them. It was a massive relief; I knew they didn't have the strength to do it themselves as they were resettling into their own home after months of being homeless on the streets."
"I worked as a caseworker in a homelessness drop-in service when a young man came for housing advice and support. He had been homeless/sofa-surfing for months due to a breakdown in family relationships and ongoing health issues. I helped him access his tenancy in a new flat, start receiving PIP, and begin meaningful work for him. When I left this job, he wrote me the most meaningful 'thank you' letter, describing the genuine difference my help had made and how people close to him were noticing a change in him now that he had stable accommodation and was accessing the support he was entitled to."
“I love giving a voice to those who have lost their voice. Supporting a first-time, disabled, homeless lady veteran, who was over 50 years old, through court, finding her shelter, rehab, veteran support, hip replacement, and sorting her benefits. I watched her grow from a terrified woman who could not make eye contact, to a confident, head-held-high veteran who has their own house and is now traveling around the country, running and raising money for the service. Why do I do my job? I know what it is like to be alone and without hope, with no one to see me - like one is invisible and to feel so broken that the world becomes darkness. I bring time, hope, love and laughter. I don't stop advocating and using my voice, using their words so the unengaged become engaged once more.”
"We are making a difference to people's life - one-by-one. And that's good enough for me! I have been working in this sector all my adult life and have had a number of roles where I have had the opportunity to meet and support many inspiring and creative people to become the best they can and overcome the obstacles in their path. I can't imagine not working with people to help them become the best version of themselves."
"One of my staff did a drop in with homeless clients in temporary accommodation, one of the ladies had been in the TA for over two years and was suffering with agoraphobia and was self-neglecting, not eating well and was very isolated. The staff member worked at the client's pace (which was slow) to build trust and support the client to look at what she wanted help with. She was very scared to move anywhere, but with support she started to bid for social housing properties, eventually gaining one in a seaside town- the staff member supported her to move and settle in with minimum fuss and advocated for her with partner services, the housing association and a new GP. This client is now feeling much better, attending church, has visitors, and enjoys her garden. She has settled in well, and her levels of anxiety are much lower on a day-to-day basis."
"Zahra* contacted our project whilst sofa surfing with friends who could no longer accommodate her. Zahra had left her accommodation fleeing domestic abuse and had made a homelessness application to her local authority. She had been given a letter, warning her that her local authority were not going to find her priority need. There was no mention of domestic abuse in this letter, despite Zahra telling them. She was struggling to get hold of her housing officer and felt mentally exhausted, as she was also dealing with a lot of concerns around her physical health at this time. The housing adviser wrote to Zahra’s housing officer and explained her situation, that because Zahra was homeless due to fleeing domestic abuse, she had an automatic priority need. This led to her local authority accepting a main housing duty and providing Zahra with temporary accommodation.
Zahra said: “The housing adviser was so helpful. She listened carefully to my case and my struggles, explained the laws relating to me and my position, dealt with my case in a very professional manner and contacted the council on my behalf. Without the housing adviser, I would still be sleeping at my car and sofa surfing. I couldn’t thank her enough for all the help and support she provided. You are making difference in people’s lives. Please keep it up. Thank you.”
(*Name changed to protect anonymity)"