Alex is an amputee with a long history of sleeping rough. He only occasionally secured stays in hostels across the city but had nowhere to call home. As part of Housing First, a scheme where housing is provided alongside intensive ‘wraparound’ support, Alex gained an unfurnished tenancy with Birmingham City Council.
With Shelter’s support, an application was made to Change into Action which helped Alex to buy furniture for his new home, giving some stability and helping him to settle.
Alex said: “All I wanted was a place I could call home and now I have. I’ve been living here for four months which is the longest period I’ve stayed in any place.”
A permanent home and some home comforts provided the catalyst to increase Alex’s engagement with support services, keeping him off the streets and completely changing his life.
