Stuart lived with his mum as her carer when she was living with dementia. Soon after she died, Stuart was asked to leave the family home and found himself homeless.
“My mental health had hit rock bottom, I had to sofa surf for a little while… I was getting desperate and about to buy a tent to stay in a park.”
Hearing of his desperate situation, Stuart’s cousin recommended he phone Simon Community’s 24/7 helpline. Within three days, Stuart was offered a bedroom in a Simon Community temporary accommodation site in North Belfast, which he accepted without hesitation.
During the first few months of his stay with Simon Community, his key worker Paddy barely saw him. Paddy recalls having to keep knocking on his door and checking in on him. Stuart would answer hesitantly, and spoke very little. “Stuart was very nervous. He didn’t grasp that he could stay in Simon Community for up to a couple of years if he needed. He thought he was only there for a few weeks and would then be asked to move on.”
Paddy worked with Stuart in taking those first small steps to improve his wellbeing. They organised activities together like walks and heading up into the mountains – and Paddy saw Stuart gradually come out of his shell. The more activities they did, the more Stuart’s confidence grew, and eventually he felt able to reconnect with relatives and friends.
“The best thing Simon Community ever did, was lead me to become myself again… I never thought I was going to be the old Stuart... Now I am back to being me.”
Through the supply of safe, secure and affordable homes, Simon Community’s Creating Homes project ends homelessness for good. We provide permanent homes for people like Stuart who are experiencing – or at risk of – homelessness. When Stuart was ready to live independently again, Paddy told Stuart that he had a chance of becoming a Creating Homes tenant.
In May 2024 Stuart moved into a home of his own in North Belfast.
“It has been absolutely perfect. Simon Community has been amazing… Having an organisation (like them) as a landlord who know what it's like for someone going through homelessness. They know that you’re not just a statistic.”
Stuart now lives independently, with his two cats, in his Creating Homes property. He calls his property his ‘forever home’.
“I am so happy to be alive and just have my own home and have my cats.”
Stuart describes his journey as coming out of the darkness and heading into the light. Although he has now left the temporary accommodation, he always knows Paddy and the team are there to support him. Anytime he needs to touch base, he knows he can call over and check in.
“If I hadn’t have phoned that helpline, I wouldn’t be here today. I know I wouldn’t. Simon Community literally saved my life. I know it.”
So what does home mean to Stuart?
“Home to me is security, comfort, and for right now it means this place. You have one life, might as well make it as happy as you can. And thanks to this home, I am happier than I have been in a long, long time.”
In Northern Ireland 55,500 people are officially classified as homeless. That's one in every 34 people. 80% of people in Simon Community temporary accommodation projects have experienced mental health issues. With support, we can develop long-term solutions that will genuinely end homelessness for people across Northern Ireland.
If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, please phone our 24/7 helpline at 0800 171 2222 or click here to learn more.