John’s Story
John lives with his partner and their two young children.
After experiencing homelessness, John and his family moved into temporary accommodation before finally receiving the keys to a permanent home. However, they had no furniture, white goods or other household essentials. The whole family was sharing a single mattress, with no beds for the children, and relying on food banks to meet their basic needs.
John and his family were referred into OCTA by one of our charity partners. During the initial assessment, it became clear that they needed extensive practical and financial support to help them establish a safe and comfortable home.
John lives with health conditions, while his partner cares for their two young children. With Universal Credit and Child Benefit as the household’s only income, they were unable to afford the essential items they needed and were struggling to meet their day-to-day living costs.
To relieve some of the immediate pressure, we provided fuel and supermarket vouchers. We also arranged a new washing machine, fridge, cooker and freezer, along with suitable beds and mattresses for the whole family.
This support has significantly improved the family’s living conditions. Everyone now has a bed of their own, providing a safe, comfortable place to sleep. The washing machine has removed the need to wash clothes by hand, while the new kitchen appliances mean the family can safely store and prepare food, reducing their reliance on takeaways and frequent trips to local shops.
One of the vouchers also enabled John and his partner to buy much-needed clothing for their children, who had outgrown many of the clothes they owned.
We are continuing to support John with planned applications for Personal Independence Payment, Council Tax Reduction and a water affordability scheme. We will also continue identifying further support to help the family settle into their new home and strengthen their longer-term financial stability.
The support has made a significant difference during an incredibly difficult transition for the family. With essential household items and immediate financial assistance in place, they have been able to begin rebuilding their lives with greater stability and dignity.
John has shared how much the support has meant to his family and remains optimistic about the future as our casework continues.
“You’re like an angel sent from heaven, thank you so much for everything you’ve done. We’ve had little to no help and for you to call us one day and provide all this help, it honestly means the world to us.”
The photograph in this case study does not show the beneficiary. Their name has been changed to protect their anonymity, but their words and experience are genuine.