Gary’s mental health suffered after he faced the loss of his younger brother five years ago. This led to him turning to alcohol to cope with the grief, and he developed an alcohol dependency. The addiction spiralled out of control, causing problems in his relationship with his partner. Eventually, Gary decided he needed to leave the family home before things got worse, in order to shield their children from the arguing.
“I didn’t have any choices at that time. It was either leave and be homeless, or get thrown out because of all of the arguments. So I made the choice to leave, to better myself, and for my kids as well.”
Without anywhere to go, Gary went to his local council and was put in touch with Audrey. She immediately got to work trying to find somewhere safe for Gary to stay and quickly found him temporary accommodation to keep him off the streets. Over the next three months, Gary was moved from place to place. From hotels to B&Bs, Gary struggled with the constant stress and upheaval. He didn’t feel able to see his two children and missed them badly. He said, “Every time you move it’s like starting again. It’s a hard thing to get through.”
Finally, Audrey found a flat suitable for Gary, and it was close to his children. The problem was that the landlord needed £490 for the flat’s deposit, which was more than Gary could afford. Audrey quickly applied for an emergency grant from St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity and it was paid within two days, meaning Gary could move in right away. Speaking to us about Audrey’s support, Gary said, “I cannot fault her. If it wasn’t for Audrey, I don’t know where I’d be now. She’s been a massive support. I couldn’t have done it without her, to tell you the truth.”
Gary is now settled into his new home, and having the stable base has enabled him to improve his relationship with his children and their mum. His children can come round to visit, and Gary can take them to school and for days out. Gary told us that the support he received from St Martin’s Charity has transformed his life. He said, “Things like this just wouldn’t happen to people like me. I’m really thankful.”
Looking forwards, Gary is excited to spend Christmas with his children. “I can’t wait to see their little faces when they open their presents. That’s the main reason for Christmas to me now.”
