I’ll never forget the Christmas when I had to tell myself, ‘This isn’t forever.’ I’m Caitlin and I’m writing to tell you about what happened to me.
My story isn’t a dramatic one. I grew up with my mum, dad and brothers and sisters. I had a very happy childhood and a loving family.
I was 18 when I first moved out and got my own place, it was such an exciting time. I was so full of hope for my future.
Life was normal, I was working, paying rent, and managing fine. But then Covid hit and over the years, the rent kept rising - £650, then £800, then £870.
I couldn’t keep up.
“I was trying so hard to stay on top of my bills but soon I was skipping meals, going to my mum’s house for dinner, just to make ends meet.”
Every month it was just getting harder and harder. I was having to choose between heating the house or eating. And then, I became pregnant with Jack, and I knew I needed stability. I knew things needed to change.
Moving home wasn’t an option, as my brother was experiencing similar challenges with his rent and had moved back to mum and dads with his young family.
There just wasn’t room for me to go home too.
At first, I stayed with a family friend during my pregnancy. But a few months after Jack was born, I knew we couldn’t stay there any longer.
We stayed with my friend for as long as we could, but she had her own family and problems, and the stress of having a new baby in the house was just too much for everyone.
“I just felt like we were in everyone’s way."
I’ll never forget that feeling, being a new mum, holding my tiny baby, and realising we had nowhere to go. I called the Housing Executive in tears.
They put us in a hotel for a week, then a hostel in North Belfast. It was really hard.
“The rules were strict, I wasn’t allowed visitors, and I just felt so lonely trying to take care of a newborn without any support and in a place that didn’t feel like home.”
I was used to my independence, and it was difficult having to share the simplest of things like a washing machine and vacuum cleaner with people I didn’t know.
Eventually, we moved to Simon Community’s Conway Court. It was such a relief. For the first time in months, I could breathe. The staff were amazing, they even helped me with essentials when I had nothing.
Last Christmas was tough. I felt like we were just taking up space, that we didn’t really belong anywhere. I couldn’t give Jack the Christmas I wanted for him. But this year is different.
With the help of Simon Community and the team at Conway Court, I have had the time and space to start to rebuild my life and plan for a future where Jack and I could finally feel secure.
We’ve just been offered a permanent home and soon Jack and I will have our own space, a real home. He’ll have his own bedroom. I can’t tell you what that means to me.
I’ve gone from feeling hopeless to feeling excited about the future again.
This Christmas, I’ll be putting up a tree in our own living room. Jack will have space to play. And I’ll finally feel like we belong somewhere.
Homelessness is happening now. This Christmas, 19,420 children will wake up homeless.
With your support Simon Community can offer stability and a safety net to families facing or experiencing homelessness.
By donating this Christmas, you can help families like Caitlin and Jack start their journey out of homelessness today. Click here to donate.
