Ian rebuilds his relationship with his daughter as new home provides a stepping stone to a brighter future

Ian had been sleeping rough in Chester for a long period of time.

He found himself isolated and was estranged from his Liverpool-based family, including his 13-year-old daughter.

Aged 45, he was dependent on drugs and struggling with his mental health. He had difficulty engaging and dealing with agencies, professionals and support services.

Eventually, Ian began to engage with forfutures

Forfutures, in partnership with Cheshire West & Chester Council and other organisations, supported Ian to move into his own home under the Housing First scheme in October 2019.

Housing First is an evidence-based approach to successfully supporting homeless people with high needs and histories of entrenched or repeat homelessness to live in their own homes. It is a different model because it provides housing ‘first’, as a matter of right, rather than ‘last’ or as a reward

Ian was offered a tenancy from a housing association, and wrap-around support by forfutures.

The transition from rough sleeping to living in a home was a gradual process for Ian, and he needed a lot of reassurance and encouragement.

Over time he built a good relationship with his forfutures support worker and is really starting to turn his life around.

He is now registered with a GP and is getting the support and medication he needs to help him manage his mental health and he is also engaging with a drug support worker to deal with his addiction.

He is claiming the benefits he’s entitled to and has a bank account. He’s even started volunteering at a community café which gives him a feeling of belonging and that he is contributing to the community.

Ian has also been in touch with his family and is rebuilding his relationship with his daughter.

forfutures support worker Clive Richards said: “It’s been great to see the changes in Ian’s life. There have been such massive improvements in his lifestyle, health and wellbeing and self-esteem.

“He now has somewhere safe and secure to live to carry on rebuilding his life and his relationship with his family.”