Starts at Home Day 2024
Celebrating the value of housing support services.
Starts at Home is an annual campaign, run by the National Housing Federation, to showcase the value of supported housing.
The campaign brings together support and housing providers to tell the stories of those who dedicate their lives to helping others, and those who find themselves in a moment of their life where they need to call on some extra help.
Our young people support services in Huddersfield and Heckmondwike are specially designed for those under 25 who need support and help with housing.
Recently, we met with two residents, Stefaniia and Thomas. They told us how they sought the help of Connect when they were most in need, and how having a safe and secure place to call home has led them to feel empowered to live happier and healthier lives.
Stefaniia’s story
Stefaniia’s story started with a journey from Ukraine to the UK. On arrival, she found that she felt alone, in unfamiliar surroundings with no clue how to proceed.
I was new in this country; I was lost, nervous and very scared. I didn’t have anything here. No friends, no family, it was pretty difficult [for] me.
I really didn’t know what to do in the future, how I could get [a] place to live, because I had nothing.
Connect Housing helped me…They led me to adult life. Showed me a lot. How to pay council tax, how the system works because I didn’t know anything about this country.
I tried to do a lot by myself…that was difficult. It was quite hard, but I think that’s a part of life, even if someone’s helping you.
But I felt safe, I felt as if I could count on someone. I’m grateful, I’m really grateful for it.
Thomas’s story
Trigger Warning: This story contains discussion of suicide
After moving out of his family home, Thomas’s life took an unexpected turn. Having found himself homeless and sofa surfing between his brother and his friends, he turned to a service in Huddersfield who redirected him to Connect Housing.
I was at the point where I’d given up all hope. I [couldn’t] keep staying at people’s houses being here and there. I [felt] like a burden…and then I made the conscious decision to end my life. So I went and I tried to do that, and I couldn’t.
In the next couple of days I got a call from Connect. I was sat on the steps outside my brother’s house, and they told me that they had a place for me…and I started crying.
From then on things just started getting better and better and they – the guys at Connect Housing – were checking up on me all the time, anything I needed them for they were just a call away. I think I once called at two in the morning because I was a bit upset, next thing I know I’m talking to Ruth about rum truffles. It’s nice how they’re there to support you – it’s professional but at the same time, they were almost like friends to me, which is exactly what I needed at that time.
Since then, I’ve been building myself up… and I don’t know how it happened but I figured out how to love myself. I don’t think I’d be where I am now without Connect Housing, without them giving me that place to stay and build myself up.
If you are a young person who is homeless, or have experienced a family breakdown and risk becoming homeless, we may be able to help. Contact us on 0300 5000 600 for further information or advice.
