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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

Bethany gave me the tools to rebuild my life

This opinion piece is over 6 years old
 

David, 30, was helped out of homelessness by Bethany House, an emergency resettlement unit in Edinburgh.

Bethany stepped in when I needed help after I found myself in a difficult situation.

In 2016, I lost my job and I started to drink heavily as a misguided way to cope with my circumstances. I wasn’t handling life particularly well: I stopped opening my mail, I hadn’t paid my rent and I was subsequently evicted from my home.

I was placed in two different B&Bs where I could stay for a temporary length of time, however, this was far from ideal. I was kicked out of the first B&B because I was involved in a road accident where I was run over and was treated in an ambulance; this meant that I missed my curfew so I was left to find another place to sleep.

David

Before Bethany, I felt very hopeless about my future. Today, life looks a lot brighter than it did a year ago

David

I was informed by the council that because I had failed to pay my rent, I had intentionally made myself homeless, and after a lengthy and very stressful appeal process which resulted in the decision being overturned, I was offered a place at Bethany House.

I was a resident there for just short of one year, after having lived in B&Bs for three months.

Staying at Bethany House was a very positive experience for me. The staff and volunteers were a lovely group of people and treated me with dignity and respect.

Not only did they provide with me safe accommodation, but Bethany helped me regain the skills I needed to stay in my own tenancy again and even gave me new opportunities I probably wouldn’t previously had access to.

I was able to go on holiday to Aviemore with other residents from the house where I had the opportunity to forget about some of the struggles I was dealing with and the fact that I was homeless, even if only for just a couple of days. Not only that, I was encouraged to use my skills and desire to help others by volunteering at a youth camp in Romania.

Before Bethany, I felt very hopeless about my future. Today, life looks a lot brighter than it did a year ago. I have cultivated a great network of friends, started a new job at a high-end hotel in Edinburgh which I really enjoy and I am speaking to my family a lot more these days.

Thanks to Bethany, I now live in a new flat in Granton which even has a fantastic view of the Firth of Forth and Fife. When I first moved in three weeks ago, the flat was very empty and didn't even have carpets; but with Bethany’s help, I’ve been given the tools and resources to make this house a home. They have helped me with painting, decorating and have continued to provide me support through follow-on services.

For the first time in over a year, I am in a place that feels like a home. You can’t put a price on that feeling.