Nearly six years ago, I was sleeping under a bridge when I first met someone who would make a big difference in my life. At the time, I was lost and struggling, but they introduced me to The Wellspring and helped me apply for housing. With their support, I was able to move into my own place – a huge step forward for me.
Unfortunately, about a year later, things fell apart. I was evicted and found myself rough sleeping again. But they didn’t give up on me. They came back, and we started the long and difficult process of reapplying for housing. Once again, I moved into my own accommodation.
Living with depression has been a constant battle for me. On my darkest days, I’ve turned to heavy drinking, pulled away from services, and put myself at risk of losing everything all over again. But over the past four years, they’ve taken the time to understand me, my patterns, my triggers and worked with me to break that cycle. They’ve been there for outreach, practical support like sorting out benefits, and emotional support when I needed it most.
Now, I’m in a much better place. I’m employed, becoming more independent, and even managed to save up and buy a car. It’s taken time, effort, and long-term intervention, but I’m proof that change is possible.
