Homelessness can be a consequence of complex and often traumatic life experiences. Tina is a young woman from Edinburgh. Her experience highlights the vital role of supportive housing in providing a safe haven for young people experiencing homelessness. Your donations and purchases from Edinburgh Furniture Initiative ensure we can provide those services. Read Tina’s story.
Tina is a young woman who grew up in care and had a number of negative experiences. She moved around a lot and felt no one listened to her or was interested in her. She spent her last period of time in care in a residential unit.
When she was 16, she wanted to move out. Her social worker has asked if she’d like to move to Four Square’s Number Twenty service for homeless young women, but Tina thought there were too many rules at Number Twenty. And, although she said she wasn’t ready, she was moved into her own tenancy.
18 months later the tenancy had failed and Tina was sofa surfing for a bit and then presented as homeless at the council office. She was down and not looking after herself properly. She was referred again to Number Twenty and moved in. This time found that it wasn’t as strict as she first thought.
Staff worked with her at her own pace. It took a month of support for her to go to the GP. But she did go, and she got her medication sorted out and now feels better and is more motivated to look at work or college.
Since being at Number Twenty she said she feels listened to and safe. She said she lost count of how many times she has had to pack her bags and move. She is only just 18 now.
Staff will continue to work with Tina until she can manage independently and feels ready to move on. They have already helped her get a GP, but they will also help her understand how to look after her herself, including things like cleaning her room and washing clothes and cooking; how to budget; and they will support her to find employment or training.
At Christmas, Four Square comes by with a Christmas dinner and ensures Tina receives a gift. She can stay at Number Twenty for up to two years, or longer if she needs it.
After Number Twenty, which has staff on site 24/7, she can move into her own flat, in Four Square’s My Space service, where she has her own front door and staff nearby if she needs them. And once she feels ready, our partner housing association will get her own tenancy in an area she chooses in Edinburgh.
This time she’ll be ready.
The roots of homelessness are complex, and working with people to successfully regain their place in the community takes time and dedication. Four Square’s vital services in Edinburgh depend on donations and income from our reuse store and Saughton Park café.
Just £5 can ensure that all our service users receive a hot Christmas meal and feel the festive cheer they deserve.
