Carla first came to us in April last year, after twenty years of rough sleeping on and off.
She was sleeping in a tent near the Strand, pitching her tent outside restaurants with heaters to keep warm.
Rough sleeping as a woman comes with its own specific set of dangers. As a woman alone, Carla was well aware of this, and had her safety on her mind at all times. Chloe says “I was constantly having to be alert. I used to drink a lot back then too, I was blocking a lot of it out.”
This lack of safety was a catalyst for Carla in approaching The Connection for support. When she did, she was assigned a key worker, Chloe. It took some time to build up trust with Carla, and during this time she used The Connection’s services. She came in for hot meals, to clean her clothes and to use the showers. She also attended our women-only group on Wednesdays, a safe space for women to access support.
Once Chloe was able to gain Carla’s trust, she secured her a room in a women-only hostel in central London.
“If it wasn’t for Chloe, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Carla has now been in the hostel for a couple of months and is flourishing. She is making real progress towards resolving her alcohol dependency. She feels much better, too.
“I feel a lot better in myself. I had some negative experiences on the streets. Now I feel a lot happier, more relaxed, and more at ease with myself. Now I can look forwards, not back.”
At the hostel, Carla has found safety and stability. With her own space, she can look after herself and regain her independence. She is also enjoying taking part in activities at the hostel, particularly the art classes and gardening classes. She is optimistic about her next steps.
Chloe says “I think Carla doesn’t recognize her own resilience, and determination, and the part that she’s played. Really, it’s all been Carla – I’ve only been there supporting her, and giving a gentle nudge when needed, but it’s all her hard work.”
Chloe and Carla continue to work together, and they hope to find Carla her own place soon.