For Leighann, being homeless wasn’t just hard – it was dangerous.
After years of trauma, abuse, addiction, and living in 20 different hostels just to stay safe, she reached breaking point. But today she’s healing, learning new skills, and building a future. This is her story.
Homelessness and survival
For a long time I was surviving, but not really living.
I lost my job because of my mental health. I had no one to help me, and things spiralled. I ended up living on the streets, doing whatever I needed just to get through the day. As a woman, being street homeless was scary — I never knew what was coming. I was constantly in danger and moved through 20 different hostels in about a year, just trying to stay safe.
I’ve dealt with a lot of trauma in my life. I buried it in drink, drugs and bad relationships. I was desperate to find a better way forward — to get clean and start over.
Emmaus gave me that way forward.
A fresh start at Emmaus
One thing I love about Emmaus is that it’s not just about giving someone a bed — it’s about giving someone a reason to get out of it.
Since joining Emmaus, I’ve started to feel in control of my life. I get stuck in every day, whether it’s the shop, van, kitchen, cleaning, or gardening. I’ve even tried blacksmithing in a forge! I struggle to learn new things sometimes, but I’m giving it everything I’ve got.
I love upcycling. We take things people have thrown away and turn them into something completely different – something people value. It’s a bit like what Emmaus does for people. We might come here broken, but we’re given the chance to start again.
Safety, recovery and rebuilding confidence
I live in a women’s community – it’s one of the few places I’ve felt truly safe and understood. We don’t just learn work skills. We get therapeutic support too, including eight-week recovery programmes for women who’ve experienced violence or abuse. It’s helped me begin to process everything I’ve been through.
Emmaus has helped me forgive people who caused me pain – and that’s really healing.
Now, I feel like I’m not a failure. I’m not a waste of space. I’ve achieved qualifications in PAT testing, Mental Health First Aid, and Level 1–3 counselling. One day, I hope to become a support worker, because I’ve walked in those shoes, and I want to help others find a way forward.
Make it with Emmaus
Today, Leighann has hope. She’s making goals for the future. But there are so many others still without safety, purpose or hope.
Will you help more people make a new start in life?
Please give what you can to help someone else rebuild their life.