Gaz's experiences of homelessness
“I’ve always been a positive person and helped other people. Always had a caring nature but I had a tough childhood. But that’s given me the skills and the attributes to be of use now. My mum was deaf from birth, and she had schizophrenia. I left with my dad when I was four. And my dad was an alcoholic, we were in bedsits, so I had experience of not having housing even back then.
“I got arrested in 2013 but just previously, I was on holiday in Thailand. After three days, I had a cardiac arrest, my lungs stopped which made my heart stop. But this is because I didn’t love myself; I had no therapy for my trauma since childhood.
“When I got arrested three months later, I wanted to work hard to better myself. I created a structure, and I was away from that harmful lifestyle. But then I had abandonment issues which I didn’t know at the time; I realised when I had therapy. When I was 38, I had a broken heart from a failed relationship, and I was still on probation. But when the first lockdown happened, I moved into a house share where my half-brother was in the room next door. He is lovely but I just started giving up. I was having a mental breakdown.
“I felt so much pressure and my life just spiralled out of control.”
Gaz's journey to Crisis
“One day, I decided to leave that life. I visited the soup kitchen because I didn’t have any money and became homeless. As soon as you run out of money, that’s it; that’s how much your life can change in one day. I remember walking down the road, a hot day, and seeing these happy people walking past and all your thoughts start going back to your childhood, where did it go wrong. That’s when I went to the library and found a leaflet about Crisis.
"I thought I’d give it a go and I didn’t know what I was going to be walking into. It was just amazing. It was life-changing, and from the minute I walked in and sat down, met the receptionist and then sat down for a bit, I could just sense that this was just a different vibe. It was unlike any other organisation or anything I’ve been to in my whole life. There was just a real warm, caring vibe and it was just amazing, yes, and changed my life.
"Then I met my lead worker, and she was absolutely amazing. It was all about what she could do to help me progress, what she could do to help my situation, is there anything that I need. And then she told me about all the classes and stuff that they do here, and I just got involved in everything and just fell in love with the place.
“Crisis helped me have a structure instead of going mad and being out on the street. I don’t know what I would have done without them. Crisis gave me all the resources, got a place in a hostel.
“It’s not rocket science. If you haven’t got a roof over your head, it’s going to be difficult to progress in life.
“Crisis also helped me get my medication. There’s a doctor drop-in on Tuesdays. I’ve been with Crisis nearly 18 months now and I’ve seen people get their lives transformed.
“There’s just no negativity at Crisis. I’m even starting to look towards pursuing some of my dreams because of the foundation that these people have given me. And I’ve done some things for Crisis which I didn’t think I’d be able to do, like talk to 200 people online for Lloyds, or reading at the Carol service to 500 people.
“I also got the support from Kaitlyn, my lead worker, she’s always telling me how proud she is.
“My first night at my own flat, I had blow-up beds. Crisis got me blow-up beds because we were waiting for my furniture pack to come, which Crisis and Kaitlyn sorted out as well. I have nice neighbours and we have our own little Whatsapp group. We ask whose turn is it to do the bins.
“We shouldn’t live in a world where you can’t have a home; everyone should have a home."
Gaz's experiences of Crisis at Christmas
For Crisis at Christmas in 2023, Gaz was a keen volunteer, and he wrote the foreword for the Christmas magazine. He also gave a speech at the Cathedral during the Christmas carol service.
“This is my second Crisis at Christmas. Last Crisis at Christmas, I did absolutely everything. I did art, where we made tote bags and t-shirts, and I’ve done the sing-alongs, I’ve done the quizzes, the bingo. Just absolutely everything. I volunteered on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
“I’ve met some amazing people and getting involved with everything at Christmas with Crisis made my Christmas. You know, Christmas is hard for some people, and especially hard last year and will be again this year. But the stuff that you do with Crisis takes your mind off everything and you feel part of a nice, caring, warm community.
“I’ve been looking forward to Crisis at Christmas because I like Christmas anyway. It was rubbish when I was little. Now I’m older, I can make my own Christmas, and I just like the vibe. As soon as it was getting near Christmas, I was onto Rachel and saying, “I want to volunteer,” and, “when’s the timetable coming out?”
“My favourite part of Crisis so far this year is just sharing the experience with the other members and seeing them throughout the year. Seeing their journey and seeing what we’re all getting out of it, due to Crisis and what they deliver and their ethos and what they bring at Christmas. It’s just been nice seeing people that have been through a real hard time with a smile on their face.
“The supporters and the donors, their money is going to good use. It’s changing people’s lives."
Find out more about our Crisis at Christmas appeal and how you can help to change someone's life this year.
*Gaz's story reflects a real member's experience, but his name and photo were changed to protect his identity.
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