‘Mark’ who is 39-years-old, had lost several forms of accommodation over the last decade, due to a combination of behavioural issues and the accumulation of arrears. Of particular concern to potential providers were past instances of inappropriate behaviour towards female staff.
Mark had challenges around his mental health and was vulnerable to coercion from associates and suffered two physical assaults during the summer of 2024. A prolonged period of rough sleeping resulted in an increase in alcohol consumption, which heightened both his vulnerability and his propensity to inappropriate behaviour in public places.
Bringing Mark into Crossways in November 2024, our main focuses were on addressing his mental health through the involvement of the Dual Diagnosis team, and addressing his debts through a Debt Relief Order, for which he received support from Christians Against Poverty.
Mark showed a real desire for change, looking for opportunities to secure a better future for himself, such as enrolling on a course to learn how to drive a dumper truck, thereby improving his employment prospects.
As the end of Crossways 24/25 approached we could demonstrate to potential accommodation providers the progress that Mark had made. Supported by not just Crossways/S & T staff but also his TAP team, his success in an environment where both support staff and volunteers were predominantly female confirmed how he had understood the issues that were limiting his housing options and taken advice and action to address them.
With just two days to go before Crossways closed Mark moved into a supported housing project where he will receive weekday support but can live with a considerable degree of independence
