I was living with my mum in her council flat, but she had to move out to get help with her mental health. I stayed in the flat for a while, but then mum sadly passed away.
Living in my car
The council wanted the flat back, as it was in my mum’s name, so I had to move out. I didn’t have anywhere to go, so I lived in my car for quite a while. The cold didn’t bother me too much, but it was really cramped in there. I used to go to local food banks every day to get enough to eat. Without the food banks I would have gone hungry.
Help from Emmaus
I found out about Emmaus from the local council. I was struggling with my mental health. Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire not only gave me somewhere to stay but helped me overcome how I was feeling. They helped me out massively. I enjoyed living in the community accommodation and got on well with everybody. I was happy there and made some good friends. Gradually my life turned around.
For me, one of the best things about life at Emmaus was the work experience. I used to drive a van around the local area, delivering food and supplies to food banks. I loved having something to do helped to keep my mental health problems at bay.
Moving on
I was at Emmaus for about two months, until I was ready to move on. I’ve now got accommodation through a local housing association. It feels good to have my own place.
I’m looking for a job as a driver; I like my own company so driving suits me. I’d like to train to get my HGV license and I’m feeling quite positive about the future.
Giving back
I’ve recently started to volunteer for Emmaus, coming back to drive the food bank van again. Keeping busy really helps me and it’s good to give back. It also feels great to be able to help people get a meal when they might not have any food. I know how that feels. Emmaus was there to help me, so now I can help others.