Steve, now in his 40s, has been a long-established presence on the streets of Cambridge. On several occasions over this time, he was the victim of intimidation and exploitation whilst in accommodation, including a tenancy that he eventually surrendered.
This led Steve to return to the streets, where he felt safer. Due to his previous experiences, he was reluctant to take any form of accommodation offered to him.
Steve had been at Crossways in a previous Winter and was aware of the trauma informed approach of our support team, where each guest is allowed the time and space to explore the options available to them. He was happy to return to us this year when offered a room.
Steve’s willingness to address his complex needs can fluctuate. However, this Winter our team were determined to help him get the support he needed. This included arranging and accompanying Steve on numerous appointments with partner agencies that he might otherwise have not attended.
Steve continues to receive support from our Survive & Thrive service, and we are very hopeful that he will take up the offer of accommodation appropriate to his needs, beginning a longer term move away from the streets.
