One of our Winter Night Shelter guests recently made the transition into KAP’s supported accommodation.
This is a much bigger step than it might sound.
The reality of homelessness has a very real impact on those experiencing it. We saw this as we got to know the regular guests at the Winter Night Shelter this year. Each person has their own story of very difficult experiences, before and after they ended up sleeping rough, that shape how they see themselves and the world.
This particular guest was no exception. Unforeseen circumstances had plunged him into a tough place, with intense feelings of rejection and hopelessness. Given what he had been through,it was very difficult for him to trust anybody and engage with any services. Sadly, this is a common issue that stops people moving forward.
But after getting to know the King’s Arms Project team over the winter, this man experienced real compassion and acceptance and slowly came to trust us.
“It is the trust that our guests encounter here that empowers them to create long-lasting change”. KAP CEO, Kirstie Cook
KAP’s services are all linked, run by cross-collaborative teams under the same roof, and centre around genuine relationships between staff and clients. Our supported accommodation is run by some of the same people this guest already knew and trusted – he didn’t need to go to a whole new place staffed with unfamiliar people. He really believed that the KAP team wanted him to thrive. This was the key that gave him the courage to take up his place in the accommodation.
Now he’s taking the next step in his journey with his own room, and a community that makes it feel like ‘home’. It’s a giant leap forward for him.
