Amy Mumford*
I was living with my ex-partner and we had a relationship breakdown. I had to leave the property and I went to a hostel in Walsall. I didn’t have a very good experience living there, and didn’t feel I could trust the staff and other residents. I decided to leave the hostel at this point and became homeless again.
I was referred by the council to Solace, and an interview was arranged for me to go and see if I could get accommodation there. I spoke a lady on the phone (referrals officer) and completed the interview over the phone. My place was confirmed at Solace and the following day I got the train to Wolverhampton and some of the staff from Solace came to pick me up to take me to the hostel, as I wasn’t familiar with the area. The staff at Solace made me feel really comfortable and welcomed – they even made me breakfast as I had had nothing to eat yet that morning. Since living at Solace, I feel I have made some positive changes with the support of the staff, and I am now doing volunteering work at the local charity shop which helps to get me out and about, and maybe meet new people. I think the staff at Solace and really good and they do a brilliant job.
In the future I would like to get my own property. Giving something back by volunteering gives me genuine hopes for a positive future.
*name has been changed to protect identity