Linda's Story

Linda was referred to Housing Matters after neighbourly disputes got so bad that she knew she had to leave her address. On a long journey of PTSD, declining mental well-being and a chronic health condition, The Bridge were able to support her to create a new, safe home. She said:

“I knew I had to leave my current home; it was lovely, and I knew that I could find a house exchange… But that would take time, and I needed to get out.

“My daughter accompanied me to The Bridge for an initial assessment and I just broke down. They allocated a Support Worker to me and she was my outlet, helping me through some of my toughest times.

“When I first came to The Bridge, I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. I would cry to my Support Worker, because I didn’t know where to run to. But, I finally felt safe and I needed that stability.”

Linda was able to move into her daughter’s previous house and her Support Worker was there to assist with this transition; Housing Matters offers longer-term assistance to people to sustain their tenancies and maintain stability.

“Because of my health conditions and mental health issues, I was overwhelmed by the different paperwork for things like utility bills in my new home. My Support Worker would sit with me; calling people like the Council or nurses, or organising appointments.

“It was the start of me being able to accept someone on the end of the phone, as I wasn’t even capable of making a phone call before. My mental health particularly bad.”

 “She worked through my budgeting and helped me get discounts where I was eligible, for things like water bills, which saved me a lot.

“The Council had tried to take me to court for not paying Council Tax; my Doctor had signed forms to prove that I was exempt, but the forms had been lost. My Support Worker hand delivered new copies and helped me through the stress of that, even though it is ongoing.

“Without the support I’ve received from The Bridge, I honestly don’t think I would be here. It’s been very difficult for me to accept who I am now, after everything with my health.

“I’d never had to ask for help in my life; but something can happen or you can get a mental health issue and suddenly the person you were is gone. But now I am in a new home and it is so much calmer.

 “They even helped us with food parcels when things got particularly tough last year, in the pandemic.

“When I had heard of The Bridge, I thought it was solely for homelessness. But they don’t just support you with that. I can’t thank them enough; my Support Worker was everything.”