Hagos’ Story
Hagos was sleeping rough with no income stability.
Shortly after being granted refugee status, he was evicted from his Home Office accommodation, leaving him without a safe place to stay.
As a result of suspended housing benefit, Hagos built up rent arrears and became increasingly isolated. With limited English and very little understanding of the UK benefits system, he found it difficult to access support or connect with employment and social networks.
To ease immediate pressures, our charity partner supported Hagos by:
Enrolling him in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes
Supporting him to apply for housing benefits and clear his rent arrears
Creating a manageable payment action plan for service charges
Encouraging him to join a financial literacy workshop
Introducing him to football sessions and tournaments to build social confidence
As a result of this support, Hagos’ housing benefit was reinstated and his arrears were cleared. He is now more engaged with local services and his community, and has grown in confidence through football and group activities.
Hagos has developed a stronger understanding of budgeting, managing money, and navigating the benefits system. He now actively engages with support services, has clear goals for housing and employment, and feels more confident building a new life in the UK.
His journey highlights the importance of language support, tailored guidance, and meaningful community connections.
“I love football. It helped me make new friends and feel confident again. I now understand what I need to do to stay on top of things.”