Phil is a supported tenant at specialist housing provider Sustain UK. In his blog, Phil explains how a welcoming home, the right support and a love of cooking has helped him find safety, security and stability in his life.
“As a 57-year-old, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that two years ago I got myself onto drugs. I’d got to my mid 50s and never touched them, then suddenly I had a go, and they took hold. I think my addiction started due to the stress of the situation I was in.
Up until two years ago I had always worked, and I hadn’t signed on since 1995.
Birmingham born and bred, I worked at Carlsberg and then Toyota, and was a trade union rep at both, for Unite Union and T&G. I was a steward because I cared about people and wanted to help them.
But two years ago, my brother and my mum got ill at the same time, my mum with lung cancer, and my brother with emphysema.
When my brother fell ill, I went to stay with him, and I had to have some time off work.
I lost my job and then my flat because I just couldn’t afford the rent anymore. After I left my brother’s, I moved into my first HMO (house in multiple occupation).
My son Luke lived in an HMO, but I had never been in one before. He got me into the same place as him and I soon found out they could be horrific.
In one house the heating was off for months on end, including through winter.
All the HMOs, before the one I’m in now, were atrocious and filthy.
When you live in supported accommodation, support workers are supposed to visit every week and help you get your life back on track, but in these houses, they hardly ever turned up.
My friend Sean was living in a house run by Keogh Properties for Sustain and he told me how good it was. I said if a room came up, to let me know, and luckily one did.
When Luke and I moved here together we were welcomed with open arms.
The first thing I noticed was the cleanliness of the place. There was new bedding and our rooms had been cleaned and newly painted. In the last place I was given dirty quilts.
If anything is wrong here it is dealt with straightaway. The maintenance guy has become a friend. If you need anything he will do it on the spot, including little things like fixing doors and locks.
I’m the house cook as I love cooking. Sean and Luke and I put our money together to buy things like meat and we go to the food bank for the basics. We had Christmas lunch here together. It was really nice.
It’s an absolute breath of fresh air to be here now and not have to worry any more. It’s absolutely brilliant.
Sharon, my support worker, has been so helpful and has helped settle my mind. We see her most days and we talk a lot.
Sharon helped me register with a doctor and pointed me in the direction of CGL (Change, Grow, Live), a drug and alcohol service in Birmingham.
She has become a friend to the three of us. She’s at the end of a phone at all hours and if you’ve got a doctor’s appointment, she’ll go out of her way to take you.
With the right support and things to do, like cooking, I’m starting to get my life back where it should be.”
Phil is one of 1,800 people across the West Midlands housed and supported by specialist housing provider Sustain UK. If you are facing similar challenges faced by Phil and need housing and support, then please do get in touch.
