After 25 years together, ten of them married, Aidan’s relationship ended when he was 65 and he had to leave the family home. With nowhere else to go, he spent a night sleeping rough on the streets of Belfast in heavy rain.
Thankfully, the next day Aidan was offered a room at Simon Community’s Larne accommodation service. It was a difficult time, Aidan says, but stepping through the doors at Curran Road brought an immediate sense of relief.
“I didn’t feel frightened. I felt safe and glad that I had somewhere to sleep. The staff were brilliant from day one. Helping with doctors, benefits, anything I needed. It was all new to me, but they made it easier.”
Now 66, Aidan is determined to live independently again. He’s dealt with serious health issues, including lung cancer and exposure to asbestos, but he hasn’t let that stop him from staying active.
“Since being here, I’ve learned how to be independent on my own for the first time in years. I go walking every day. It clears my head and keeps me fit.”
Though he enjoys a chat with staff or fellow residents, Aidan is happy in his own company and uses his time to focus on his health and future. He regularly attends community lunches, food-based activities, and gets his hair cut when the barber visits the project.
With the help of his keyworker, Aidan has applied for his pension and secured additional benefits. Now, he’s working toward gathering evidence to apply for over-55s accommodation, where he hopes to settle into a home of his own.
“It would be nice to enjoy my retirement in my own flat. That’s what I’m working toward. In the meantime, I’ll keep walking and attending all my appointments — just keeping things ticking along.”
Looking back on his journey, Aidan says the support he's received has been life changing.
“I couldn’t be happier with the help I’ve received. The staff have been great… Eternally grateful doesn’t even cover it. Living here has been a positive experience for me, and I can now look forward to what’s next.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, please contact us at 0800-171-2222 or click here to Learn more about the support we provide.
At Simon Community, we respect everyone who comes to us for help. While this story is true, our client's identity has been changed to protect their privacy