Homelessness can happen to anyone.
Meet Ellis*. At 42 years old he became homeless, living in a tent and unable to afford even basic necessities. Ellis is a skilled carpenter and plasterer. He was in a relationship and had full-time employment. But when he and his partner split up, he turned to alcohol. In a matter of weeks, things got out of control. He lost his job, and as a result could not keep up with rent payments. Evicted from his home, Ellis found himself out on the street, homeless for the first time in his life. With no address, finding a new job or accessing government support was impossible.
A helping hand
That was when he heard about Rainbow Centre’s Breakfast Club. At the volunteer run space, visitors are provided with a hot meal and a welcoming environment. They can access healthcare, a dentist and be signposted to appropriate services to help them.
The Homeless Support Service team picked up Ellis’ case and assessed his circumstances. They found that he was eligible to take up a space at the Winter Shelter, a partnership between Folkestone Churches and Rainbow Centre. The Shelter offers supported accommodation managed by Rainbow Centre and our team of volunteers. Guests at the shelter have a room of their own, a warm bed to sleep in and an evening meal.
In this supportive environment, Ellis was able to get back on his feet and take better care of himself. Having an address for correspondence enabled him to find a job and start working again. At the end of his stay, he moved in to rented accommodation that had been arranged by Homeless Support staff.
Many people, like Ellis, are just one missed pay cheque away from crisis. For Ellis, it was a combination of events. He needed a helping hand to improve his situation. The Homeless Support service gave him the security he needed to get back to work, and overcome his personal struggles.
The journey out of homelessness can take time. Finding a home, setting up appointments, navigating the benefits system and finding accommodation, can be challenging.
The Rainbow Centre provide services to help people out of crisis throughout the year.
A monthly gift means we can plan ahead and be there for people facing homelessness and housing insecurity, for as long as it takes them to rebuild their lives.
To show your support for people like Ellis, or find out about other ways to get involved, visit our Ways to Donate page here.
*To protect our clients’ identity names have been changed.