“Unseen Struggles: Mary’s Journey Through Homelessness”

23 Dec 2024

“I couldn’t tell anyone initially. I felt embarrassed, I never imagined I’d find myself in that situation. There’s a stigma associated with homelessness, but it can occur to anyone.”

Mary was in her early 50s and employed full time when her landlord, who intended to sell the property, issued her a no-fault eviction notice. According to the new regulations, the Government plans to outlaw these types of evictions starting next summer. For Mary, however, it marked the conclusion of her tenancy and the beginning of her difficulties.

“I had to vacate, I couldn’t afford anything. I lacked the funds for a rental deposit. I had no alternative options. Consequently, I ended up sleeping in a garage that I was renting.

“It was February 2023. It was dark. It was damp and rather frightening at times. I didn’t get much sleep.”

Mary continued to go to work during the day but concealed her struggles from her colleagues. On weekends in the evenings, she would stroll to restaurants to obtain a warm meal.

“I was just aimlessly walking around town. It was extremely cold.”

After two months of residing in the garage, the Rough Sleeper Support Service at West Suffolk Council assisted Mary in finding temporary housing. She subsequently secured her own apartment in Bury St Edmunds earlier this year.

She mentions that the experience has altered her perspective on life.

“People view life through the lens of the material belongings they possess. The television, the smartphone. When you are trapped in a garage, homeless, wherever you may be, you own nothing. Yes, the material items can bring happiness; however, in the end, they are not everything.

“Just hang in there, it will be challenging, it was challenging, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

Since the start of November, West Suffolk’s Rough Sleeper Service has assisted 29 individuals who were experiencing rough sleeping. Although the number of people sleeping rough fluctuates frequently as individuals accept or depart accommodations, the service continues to do everything possible to encourage individuals to utilize the support and housing available to them.

The council has also implemented a new Housing, Homelessness Reduction, and Rough Sleeping Strategy, which entails enhanced collaboration with partners to endeavor to avert homelessness and rough sleeping from occurring.

If you are aware of or suspect someone is sleeping rough, the quickest way to report it to the council’s rough sleeper service is via the Streetlink website – the service receives an alert, and they will go and speak to the individual (if they aren’t already) in an attempt to provide them with the assistance they require.

You can also contribute to the Looking for Change campaign run by Bury Drop In, which encourages individuals to consider the reasons behind their giving – and instead direct donations to the charity. The funds are then utilized to assist individuals who have previously been homeless, who have subsequently stayed in temporary accommodations while receiving aid for any mental health or addiction issues they might have, and who are prepared to transition into more stable and permanent residences.

In Bury St Edmunds, individuals can support the campaign via text by entering BSE followed by the amount (so for £5 enter BSE5) and sending it to 70085. You can also make a donation online at the Bury Drop In website.

Watch more about Mary’s story on YouTube.