From the ages of 16 to 18, Katie was a carer for her mum who struggled with mental health issues.
“Things escalated when my parents split up,” she explains. “I felt overwhelmed with worry and would often miss school to make sure my mum was OK. Our relationship was extremely volatile.”
In July 2023, following an altercation at the family home which had become physical. Katie was arrested and taken into custody.
“I was told I couldn’t carry on living with my mum,” she says. “I had a mental breakdown in the police station and was taken as a voluntary patient to a psychiatric hospital, where I stayed for a month.”
An unsettled period of sofa surfing at the homes of relatives followed, during which time Katie’s mental health continued to decline until a suicide attempt sent her back to hospital.
“It was only at this point I fully realised I was homeless,” says Katie. “Moving between members of the family had disguised the fact that I had no single, secure base of my own. I felt hopeless. I had no control over my life and was terrified of the future.”
Temporary accommodation was found for her by a social worker. In November 2023, Katie was signposted to YMCA East Surrey’s Hillbrook House in Redhill, which offers safe, secure and affordable accommodation and related services for young homeless people.
“At my interview, the housing staff were so lovely I was desperate to move in. When I heard I was being given a place, it felt like the world had been lifted from my shoulders.”
“As well as a designated Key Worker, I also had the 1-to-1 support of Nicola Francis, a YMCA Senior Housing Support Officer. She was kind and nurturing, she always seemed to know what to say and was never angry with me or disappointed – all things I’d not had before. I was offered help and support through weekly catch up meetings and a safety plan was put in place to safeguard my mental health.”
“After feeling so vulnerable and scared, I clung to my new-found safety and developed agoraphobia, not leaving the building for the first four months. The staff were amazing. They accompanied me on walks, took me food shopping and for short drives, building it up all the time until I could finally go out alone. There is no way I would have been able to do that on my own.”
Nicola Francis says:
“Katie has come an extremely long way. Collectively, as an organisation – through staff, peer support and referrals, Y-Focus, our gym at Princes Road and our in-house Counselling team – we’ve made a break through with Katie and offered her an alternative future. She has now started a career in Childcare and was put in the baby room which was what she hoped for. She did her own CV, prepped for her interview and attended it alone and successfully secured the role. When Katie first came here she couldn’t leave the building alone. Now she’s getting herself to and from work and will eventually be Level 3 qualified in Childcare. Her progress has been amazing and we wish her all the best.”
“I never thought I’d be able to work and I’m so incredibly proud of myself,” says Katie. “I was so terrified I almost didn’t go to the interview. Nicola’s encouragement meant everything and, when the nursery called to offer me the job, the joy I felt was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I couldn’t stop smiling for days!”
“I’ve opened up and come out of my shell. I’m hoping to move into one of the semi-independent YMCA East Surrey properties soon. I feel stable and steady. I’ve gained the skills to think positively and I have the tools to know how to deal with my mental health.”
“I’m really keen to move on to the next part of my life.”