Case Studies
Centrepoint - Adele’s story
When Adele was kicked out of home she went to live in a hostel. Terrified of the other residents and disgusted by the filthy living conditions, she sank into depression. Now at Centrepoint, Adele is getting her life back together again.
“Me and my mum hadn’t been getting on for a long time, but following a physical fight she told me to leave. I went to the council and was given a room in hostel. It was awful. There were perverts there. The way the older men used to look at me made me shiver. The hostel was overcrowded but I had no one to talk to. I just had to hold my head up high and stick it through until I get somewhere else. I was just praying I was going to move.
There were no cooking facilities at the hostel. I ate what I could prepare; mainly just sandwiches and I lost weight. There was an infestation of cockroaches. Before I went to sleep I used to pour bleach along my door so nothing could come in. The toilets weren’t cleaned every day; I used to go in there with bleach. I found myself sick all the time and got gastritis 'cause I didn’t want to use the facilities. I began to feel really depressed.
After a few months, I managed to get a place at Centrepoint. I was so happy. I felt like yes, I am going to be settled. When I moved in I smelt the freshness, everything was clean and I knew was going to enjoy living here.
I am officially by myself now. My family don’t want to help me. I couldn’t have handled my situation without the support of my friends and the staff at Centrepoint. They are so nice - you know if you have a problem you can tell them and something will happen. I think they should make more places like this for young people who have got nowhere to live. They should be housed in places where they have a keyworker, where they can cook and feel comfortable, where they don’t feel scared.
Being homeless meant school wasn’t a priority and I lost out on my education. Now I’m planning to go to college. I’ll have a clear head this time because I feel settled and safe at Centrepoint. I’m so happy to be here.”
Click here to visit the Centrepoint website.