Following a family breakdown and struggling to find suitable accommodation, Sam called the Centrepoint Helpline who then encouraged him to come to Centrepoint in Manchester. Since then, he has been supported by the team to begin living a more independent life and rebuild his relationship with his family. He’s looking forward to the future and excited to have his own place one day.
Family breakdown
Sam become homeless following a family breakdown. His mum was struggling to cope with him, his autism and OCD, as well as his younger siblings, which had a huge impact on both hers and Sam’s mental health. This turbulent relationship frequently meant that he didn’t have a safe space to stay, would be kicked out and spend the night in a park.
Their relationship reached breaking point, and one night he ended up sleeping in emergency accommodation. After he was asked to leave in the morning, Sam didn’t know where to turn and ended up walking around town, trying to find somewhere to safe to stay.
Coming to Centrepoint
Sam felt very overwhelmed by the situation and didn’t know what to do. He remembered that his friend had told him about Centrepoint. He said it was a safe place and that he should call if he needed any help. When he called the helpline, it was clear that Sam was really struggling, and he was worried about going somewhere new. The helpline team were able to help him in a taxi to make his way to his closest Centrepoint service, staying on the phone with him the whole way.
"They were all really nice and warming, from the receptionist to all of the members of staff that randomly said hi and checked in on me while I was in the waiting room, they checked in on me even when they didn't even have to", Sam remembers.
Sam arrived very upset and let the team know that he hadn’t slept or eaten for over 24 hours. He also didn’t have any batteries left in his hearing aids, which meant he was struggling to hear the team, adding to how he was feeling. Celina, his key worker, helped Sam find ways to lower his anxiety and to share a bit about what he had been through.
"If it wasn't for their help I wouldn't be here where I am now so I don't think I can ever thank them enough, especially Celina."
During this assessment, it became clear that Sam’s living situation wasn’t suitable for him and the team contacted Adult Social Services. It was clear that both he and his family had been let down by support services along the way and not given the help they all needed.
Following an assessment and a consultation with the Adult Social Care team, they agreed that Shared Lives Service would be a good place for Sam to be housed but they had to wait for a bed to become available. Due to Sam’s autism, it was decided that it would be safer for Sam to return home until a bed became available then move into temporary accommodation. Celina spoke to the family, and everyone agreed to this.
Mental health
After a few days, Sam’s mental health had deteriorated following a challenging experience at home and he was kicked out again. This meant that Sam had begun to sleep rough or had to rely on his sister keeping the door open at night so that he could come back if he needed. Feeling overwhelmed and distressed by his situation he reached out to someone who had supported him as a child.
She was worried for his safety, as he was making comments about harming himself. He had mentioned that he was being supported by Centrepoint and she reached out to Celina. Celina arrived to speak with Sam and give him some support to talk through what had happened and get him the right help he needed.
Sam was taken to A&E where he had a mental health assessment. When he was released, the team were able to get him into a Shared Lives emergency placement.
Looking forward
Sam has now moved into a more permanent Shared Lives placement and has been there for a few months now. The team supporting him have said that the change in Sam has been incredible to see and his confidence has grown day by day. He’s been able to open his first ever bank account as well as apply and receive benefits, which will help him access the support he needs. He’s also been given training on how to look after his money and support himself now he’s living more independently.
"I understand that the path ahead won't be easy, but I know that with the right support and guidance I can make it. I feel more hopeful for my own future now thanks to Centrepoint's support, whereas before when I was on the streets, I didn't care if I lived or died."
Now that Sam feels comfortable and stable in the Shared Lives placement he is feeling more in control of his life and has begun to rebuild the relationship he had with his family. By Sam reaching out to Centrepoint, it has meant that his family have been able to get the support they needed, and the dynamic has completely changed.
We’re so proud of Sam and everything he has been able to achieve and want to celebrate how far he has come. We can’t wait to see what he does next and will be there every step of the way.
