Robert (27) was in need of stability and a place to live, after battling alcohol addiction. This World Homeless Day 2022, he is sharing his experience and thanking our homelessness charity Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire for helping him get back on his feet.
Robert is now turning his life around, after the high-pressure job he did when he graduated, played a part in his drinking: “I used to drink at university but it never got to the point where I’d class it as an addiction.
“That all changed when I started working in recruitment. It was very much a ‘work hard, play hard’ environment. That’s when it started to dawn on me that my drinking was becoming an issue and I knew it was a slippery slope, so I checked myself into a rehab facility.”
Robert was offered a place here at Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire when he left rehab without a secure place to live. Our charity is providing accommodation and support at our site in Binley, until he is ready to live independently again.
Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire provides a home and meaningful work for up to 17 people who have experienced homelessness. Some stay for a while as they gain confidence and skills before they are ready to move on to independent living; others need longer-term support and are able to stay for as long as they need to.
Robert now attends Alcoholics Anonymous and is starting to plan for the future: “When I am ready, I hope to find a job that I enjoy, and then save up enough to be able to move out and get my own accommodation. One of the reasons I like Emmaus is the support is there for as long as I need it. I really appreciate that I can stay here until I’m ready to move on and start again, whether that takes a week, a month or a year.”
If you have been inspired by Robert’s story and want to help, find out how you can support our charity.