Case Studies
Emmaus - Andy's story
Andy worked as a carer for children and adults. In 1996 he went to work in Bosnia and was deeply traumatised by what he saw there. Shortly after he returned to the UK, his wife and children were killed in a road accident. Until two months ago Andy lived at Emmaus Greenwich.
After I heard about my family, I locked myself in my flat. I don't know how I got through it. My doctor then told me I couldn't do care work anymore because of an old back injury that had flared up again. That was the final straw. I lost track of time for a while. I slept on the streets in Victoria for four months.
When I arrived at Emmaus Greenwich it was as if I had been looking for a place like that all my life. It felt safe and I could relax at last. My room was an expression of me. I had flowers in my room. Living at Emmaus Greenwich gave me the chance to think about what had happened to me and to work out what to do next.
The Community helped me move out and into the shared house I’m living in now. I don’t want to lose my links with Emmaus Greenwich and I want to continue to help them because they helped me. I go into the Community from time to time and help out in the kitchen. I make cakes and pastries.
At the moment I am working delivering leaflets, which means I am getting plenty of exercise, which is helping my back problem. I have registered with a work agency and I am hoping to get a job as a support worker for homeless people with addictions.
I am taking each day as it comes, but on the whole I feel optimistic about the future. Emmaus gave me the breather I needed. They gave me support, even when I thought I didn’t need it. I feel so much stronger now. The loneliness inside me has gone. There should be more Emmaus Communities. It’s a system that works.”
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