Stewart Aubert is a Support Worker with BCHA at Plymouth Temporary Accommodation and Outreach Service. Here he tells the story of Kylie:

“Kylie was only young, but she had mental health issues, she was self-harming and had attempted suicide a number of times.

“I assessed Kylie and she told me she had been neglected by her maternal mother who was addicted to drugs. She was taken into care and she and her sister were then adopted by a family in Plymouth when she was eight years old.

“However Kylie claims she was again emotionally and psychologically abused by her adoptive parents who eventually asked her to leave their house on her 18th birthday.

“Kylie was moved into our accommodation and I began supporting her. She was not linked with any other services and had no benefits or mental health support.

“She continued to self-harm and I helped her get assigned to a GP so she could request a mental health assessment.

“Kylie was prescribed medication for her mental health issues which she had to collect daily due to her history of taking overdoses.

“Kylie handed me her razor blades and said she no longer wanted to harm herself and felt like she could now see a way forward in her life.”

“We continued to support Kylie to access activities she was interested in.

“She was offered the chance to volunteer with staff in raising money for our clients for Christmas and she joined us in wrapping presents in return for donations at a local toy store.  

“Soon afterwards, Kylie handed me her razor blades and said she no longer wanted to harm herself and felt like she could now see a way forward in her life.”

Kyle wanted to live independently and was supported to access a deposit for Plymouth Supported Accommodation

Stewart added: “I’m thrilled to say we succeeded in finding Kylie a room in a shared house where she continues to enjoy her independence and lives happily to this day.”

Homelessness

  • £5 can provide a bus fare for a day to access activities and appointments
  • £60 can provide a new outfit for a person coming to us from the street with no clothing other than what they come in wearing.
  • £1,000 keeps a Rough Sleeper in emergency accommodation for a month
  • £5,000 would buy 60 starter packs for customers moving into a new home, which would include, kitchen starter set, dinner set, Bathroom towel set, duvet, pillows, full bedding set
  • £10,000 would currently cover the interest cost on a private finance loan of around £333,000 that could fund the building of around three new homes