You have moved me into a palace!

A 62 year old male was released from custody to find himself homeless in Barnsley.  Barnsley council referred him to Bradford Cyrenians.

He had a past history of using heroin and crack, and was street drinking alcohol daily when he came to Bradford.  He was evicted from Cyrenians for anti-social behaviour and presenting intoxicated.

Bradford Cold weather provision placed him in InnChurches.
Housing Options then placed him in a B&B in Shipley but due to his drinking and antisocial behaviour he was evicted.

I picked him up on street outreach and made a referral to Hope Housing; he was accepted and moved into a property in November 2014.

The policy at the property was for clients to leave at 8.30am and not return until 5.30pm. During this time he started to drink daily, commit shop theft and smoke legal highs.  He was also being financially abused.  His life was spiralling out of control; his physical and mental health were a major concern.

We attended at the Piccadilly project but he did not want to engage. Together we worked put a payday plan to protect him from being financially abused on pay days and to prioritise his needs according to where he wanted to be in the future.  Payday would often lead to being admitted to A & E, regularly discharging himself before he was seen or given appropriate treatment.

He was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and the hospital wanted him to start treatment.  He also had epilepsy, was diabetic, had undergone a triple heart bypass, suffered from high blood pressure and had recently experienced a mini stoke.

I moved him to Cyrenians and worked along side his keyworker.  He continued with the payday plan which was successful - this was measurable by less 999 calls, ambulance call outs and A & E attendances.  He was still being financially and physically abused however, and this resulted in him being admitted to hospital with fractured ribs and pneumonia.

The payday plan helped him to form a routine of paying two weekly top-up's to Cyrenians and two weeks in advance at Unity Café for breakfast and dinners.  This was a safe place for him; he started to eat regular meals and it encouraged him to remain alcohol free and attend The Vault Café groups.

The dilemma was finding appropriate supported accommodation for an elderly and physically poorly man where he could continue his sobriety.  I spoke to the manager at Peel Park House - a new housing project.  I took him for a viewing and assessment, he was accepted and moved in four weeks later. 

He now has a small contained fully-fitted and furnished new flat, with 24 hour support, financial support and alcohol support on site.  At the point of closing my client he had been alcohol free for the past 6 weeks, was not offending, is maintaining his property and buying items for his home on paydays.  Although his health was still a concern he stated he felt safe and able to address his issues now.

His words to me were "you have moved me into a palace".

 

Moira Mbye (ARCH Alcohol Outreach Worker)