It was a Sunday in early March 2019 and what a tough day that turned out to be.  I was working at Greggs off the Bath Road in Slough and my three-month work probation was nearly complete, but in those last few weeks I hadn’t been feeling right I kept getting dizzy spells and fainting.  I suffer with anxiety, so I had taken a few days off to see the Doctor and rest, but unfortunately as a result I didn’t make it past my 3 months’ work probation period.

At that time, I was renting a private room from a family in Slough and I paid for my rent with my earnings.  I got back home that day and as usual I said hello, and they told me that they needed my room back and handed me an eviction letter.  I didn’t have a tenancy agreement, so I had no official paperwork and nothing to go to the council with.  I was so upset and although they gave me 2 weeks’ notice I just had to get out.  I went to the near-by Lidl, got a shopping trolley, loaded it up with some of my belongings and pushed it 2 miles into Slough town centre.  That day I became homeless, and I had no idea what I was going to do.
 

For the first 2 weeks I was “street homeless” in the daytime I would sleep in the entrance to Slough Library, and at nighttime walk to Wexham Park outpatients and then walk back.   It just isn’t safe to sleep or stand around in Slough at nighttime.  I visited the old Shelter on Church Street and asked for a blanket, but they wouldn’t give me one but insisted on taking me to the council for temporary accommodation.  I was housed for 2 nights.   I went back to the council, but they couldn’t help me immediately, so a friend and I pooled our money and brought a tent from Argos and camped by the Jubilee River.  We started using the homeless project in Slough to shower and we met the outreach team who visit and support those sleeping rough.  It was these guys from SHOC Housing who helped me get a room in a shared house and eventually a studio flat of my own. 

It was around this time I visited the Windsor Homeless Project. I was having a low day, and I needed to get out of Slough, so I walked to Windsor.  On Eton bridge I saw a policeman and asked them the directions to WHP, he turned out to be PCOS Dave Bullock from Street Angels.   He ended up taking me there as I’m no good with remembering directions and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Carron and Nick and the incredible support, they have given me.  They helped me with some furniture for my flat and gave me essential items like food and toiletries.  If I go to Carron with a problem, I know that she will help me I feel safe and respected WHP are like a family to me, and I go every week.   I suffer from anxiety, and it’s a safe and familiar haven which is so important for those who are rebuilding their lives. 
I feel the wider population don’t understand how easy it can be to become homeless.  No one deserves to be alone, and we shouldn’t judge anyone.  We need to show empathy even a hello goes a long way someone could be down, and you could save them from doing something silly.  A hello could save their day.