Abdul and Melissa’s story

When Abdul lost his home at 47, he had no idea how quickly life could unravel. Following the breakdown of his marriage, he found himself moving between parks, hostels, and underpasses, with nowhere safe to go and no clear path forward.

“For nine months, I didn’t know what tomorrow would look like….I was constantly on the move, trying to stay safe.”

Abdul, former Crisis Member

Then one day, a GP suggested he get in touch with Crisis—and that call changed everything.

Melissa, a Strengths and Assets Coach at Crisis, was one of the first people Abdul met. Her role, as she explains, is about more than just helping someone into housing. It’s about giving people the tools, confidence, and support to rebuild their lives for the long term.

“When Abdul came to us, he was understandably overwhelmed. He was facing a world that felt unfamiliar—things like managing bills, applying for Universal Credit, using a laptop. Tasks many of us take for granted felt insurmountable to him.”

Melissa, Abdul’s former Strengths and Assets coach

Together, Melissa worked closely with Abdul to break down those barriers. They started with the basics: how to use a smartphone, check emails, and read an energy meter. Gradually, they moved on to bigger steps—budgeting, setting up direct debits, and making sure Abdul had the right benefits in place to stay securely housed.

The role of a Strengths and Assets coach, is to support each member to see their own strengths, undoing years of self-doubt by proving they are more capable than they realise.

“Melissa has helped me big time—supporting me to learn everything I need, from managing bills to sorting Universal Credit—so I don’t miss a payment and won’t be evicted, now I can do all these things myself and get on with my life.”

Abdul

But Melissa’s support didn’t stop at the practicalities. With a safe home secured, she encouraged Abdul to take steps to reconnect with the things that gave him joy and purpose. He joined art classes, started volunteering at the Crisis shop on Brick Lane, and accessed mental health support to begin healing from the trauma of homelessness.

“A home is just the beginning. What we do at Crisis is about helping people feel ready for that next chapter—whatever that looks like for each person .”

Melissa

Today, Abdul is not just surviving—he’s thriving. And his story is just one example of how dedicated, one-to-one support can give a person experiencing homelessness the chance to move forward with dignity.

But the work isn’t done. Across Britain, homelessness is at an all-time high – rising for the third successive year. And while winter brings much-needed public attention and support, the crisis doesn’t stop when the weather warms.

At Crisis, we work 365 days a year thanks to the generosity of our supporters like you, helping each of our members to find a safe and stable home, access employment, and develop the skills they need to rebuild their lives for good. “Homelessness doesn’t take a summer break” Melissa says, and a gift in summer can be just as life-changing as one in winter.