Jane and her young daughter became homeless in 2021. Jane didn’t have a job, didn’t have any contacts with employers and didn’t know what she wanted to do either. Feeling desperate and unsure of where to go or what to do, she turned to a social worker for help, who arranged temporary accommodation for Jane and her daughter. Then Jane was put in touch with House of St Barnabas.
“I didn’t know what to expect from the House of St Barnabas. On the first day of the course, I thought it wasn’t really for me. But after my first week, I loved it! Everyone there understood what I was going through, day by day I felt more confident and more comfortable being there. It felt like being with family. You get used to waking up and having no one to talk to, but suddenly I had people to talk to! It gave me a reason to get up in the morning. Being at the House was a lifesaver for me, it’s definitely more than just a course. I’m now working part-time as a Barista in Soho after doing Barista training at the House. I’ve been there 7 months and it’s going really well.”
Jane has flourished in work and is proud to be a strong role model for her young daughter. She has grown hugely in confidence and will be attending a lunch at the House of St Barnabas next month, attended by CEOs of homeless and housing organisations, to be part of an important discussion about affordable rents and effective support for workers with experience of homelessness.