Baz was our very first visitor when we opened. He came every day for several weeks and we helped him contact housing associations and fill in forms. He was able to receive mail at the Centre's address and use the phone, and we supported him through the trying delays until he got a place. We did not see him again after that, so we did ourselves out of a Job.
Betty came to the Bridge drop-in with nowhere to stay having come from USA and Jamaica where she originated from. We were able to get her a place to stay with members of the Jesus Fellowship and let her use the phone a lot. She soon found work and her own place and then came in to clean for us in return.
Ali is Indian. He was living rough and in empty houses, mostly with a friend who also came to us. A gentle guy, we watched him go in and out of hospital with an inflamed pancreas and urged him to stop drinking spirits. He would leave clothes here for safe keeping, do laundry, use the shower and get clothes. He would help us with errands and bring other friends in. Recently he got work, cut back on his drinking and found more stable accommodation. Progress!
Billy was cheery and likeable. He would bring young friends along, use the PC, generally joke about. He came on our outing and was keen to help us out too. He got some work. We kitted him out with two suits and sent him with a letter to the Salvation Army who gave him good shoes as well. He came along to church and got support in working through his outstanding court case. He did get sent down but we are keeping in touch.
George was on regular
injections for mental health
problems and using heroin
and he could become a bit
difficult at times. He was
banned early on for a short
period of time but
afterwards we got on well.
We have been able to
support him by encouraging
him to get his jabs, eat
properly and look after
himself. He does washing
here and gets fresh clothes
from our store. We have
become part of his support
Network.
Bill is 62 years old. Brought
up in children's homes and
then moving from one
building site to another
whilst working, he has never
had a home in his life.
Together with CAN we are
encouraging and supporting
him to leave the streets and
take on his very first home.
Bev had been for
counselling and felt very
insecure. She came into the
Jesus Centre asking for
prayer. Afterwards she felt a
lot better.
Jane, a single mum and a
volunteer at the Jesus
Centre, has come off
benefits and gone back to
work having built up her
confidence through working
a shift with us and taking
advantage of the CLAIT
Course.
Alex, Craig, Dave and Ricky
are all homeless. They come
to the Jesus Centre regularly.
At first they were
withdrawn, but bit by bit
they have opened up and
become chatty and friendly.
They consider the Centre as
their drop-in.
Becky had just been
discharged from a
psychiatric unit. Her
grandparents were arriving
from Holland in two days
time to take her home with
them. Because she wasn't
looking for permanent
accommodation the other
agencies couldn't help her.
We were able to offer her
two nights board and
lodging, free of charge in
one of the Jesus Fellowship's
community houses.
|