Eve’s story
When you don’t have all those worries, you become more open to opportunities.
Eve is 23 and not originally from the UK. After fleeing violence in her home country, she arrived in the UK with no family support around her and experienced periods of homelessness and instability before local authorities eventually stepped in to provide accommodation.
After experiencing street homelessness in Lambeth, Eve was moved into temporary accommodation in a different borough. At a point when she most needed consistency, the move took her away from the small network and familiarity she had worked hard to build in Lambeth and meant rebuilding stability somewhere entirely new.
She later moved into private rented accommodation but continued facing challenges around rent and maintaining stability after not initially being set up with the correct financial support for her situation. As a result, Eve spiralled into rent arrears through circumstances outside of her control.
Despite securing accommodation, the pressure of independent living and financial instability became overwhelming. Through support from St Giles, Eve received practical and emotional support designed to help her feel safer, and more prepared to navigate adulthood independently.
Louis, her Caseworker, regularly checks in, attends appointments and advocates on her behalf. Support included helping Eve secure the right benefits, address rent arrears and push for action when problems in the property, including bed bugs, began affecting her wellbeing.
Alongside practical support, Louis also encouraged Eve to build confidence outside through spaces like church and yoga. Reflecting on the support, Eve said:
It was a lot of relief knowing someone had my back. He’d go beyond the support.
As pressure around housing and finances began to ease, Eve started feeling more open to opportunities and hopeful about the future.
Today, Eve continues working part-time at a pub, with support including help with putting together her CV and attending appointments at the Job Centre. These stepping stones allow to Eve to imagine what could come next.
Recovery from difficult experiences is rarely straightforward and life does not always move to a timetable. For Eve, consistent support created the space to rebuild confidence, find community and begin imagining what could come next.
When reflecting on the future, Eve said she still wants “the sadness to end”. At the same time, she shared her ambition of one day starting her own IT company.
Recovery and hope can coexist. They do not have to happen separately.
Supporters help St Giles continue showing up so people are not expected to face life alone before they are ready.
THIS TIME NEXT SUMMER
Can you help make this time next summer look very different for people like Eve who are trying to build stability while carrying so much alone?
With your support, more people like Eve can focus on opportunities and imagine futures that are not defined by their past but shaped by what they choose next.