Kate came to the Haven in the summer 2025 to escape unliveable mould conditions in her flat (an ongoing issue unaddressed by her housing officer due to communication breakdown). She was living outside her flat for most hours of the day and night, when possible, as the conditions posed a significant threat to her physical and mental well-being.
Kate’s family members all live abroad, and her health issues included limited mobility which made attending medical appointments challenging. She had also accrued some significant debt from hotel and taxi bills, services she needed due to her living conditions and mobility issues. In addition to her physical disabilities, Kate also struggles with mental health issues, which were quite severe when she first came to the Haven.
‘I was in a dark place when I first came here, but the Haven has given me hope. I was treated like a human here, not a statistic.’
Through the help of the Haven, K has received support from staff in helping to manage her affairs with the council housing, attend medical appointments; she has had access to the space to shower, do washing, and receive support from the staff.
