*Oliver was asked to leave the family home by his father and soon found himself sleeping rough. With support from homeless services, he was able to move into temporary accommodation at a foyer scheme. By this point, Oliver had very few belongings. While sleeping rough, he missed several Universal Credit appointments and his payments were sanctioned, leaving him under severe financial pressure.
Oliver urgently needed basic essentials, including waterproof trainers and clothing. Without a stable income, even everyday items felt out of reach. He was also relying on food banks and spoke about how difficult it felt having to rely on the same bag of donations every week.
A grant from Church Homeless Charity enabled Oliver to buy new trainers, clothing, and food. The support eased the immediate strain while he worked to get his benefits back on track. Having the freedom to choose his own food and wear clothes that kept him warm and dry made a noticeable difference. Staff shared that it was the first time they had seen him smile since arriving – especially when he proudly showed off his new tracksuit.
*Recipient’s name changed to preserve their anonymity at their request.
“I didn’t realise there were such organisations that support people like this. I thought that this was something people said, but it didn’t really happen. CHC is a great idea, and it really helps people.”