Sue Antrobus is in her late 50’s and is a volunteer for the emergency accommodation service, Nightstop. She is based in Guisborough and has hosted around 45-50 people at risk of homelessness over the last four years.
She said:
“I work full-time for a wildlife charity, so I only host one person each month or so, which works out well and is a good balance for me. They usually stay for one night while Nightstop staff work hard behind the scenes to secure them more permanent accommodation.
“The sad thing is that there’s a misconception that people at risk of homelessness are a certain type of way, and I want to make it clear that in my experience, the people who turn up with the Nightstop staff at my door, are young, scared, vulnerable and most often have had to take a break from their family home, or needed to leave their homes very quickly. They just need a safe space for the night and are usually exhausted from the horrible consequences of finding themselves in such a frightening situation.
“Often, they’ll just want to go to their room, which I set up for them before they arrive. I will cook and give them the wi-fi code. Some of the people who stay like to eat with me, but others just want their own space. I’ve hosted a lot of students, and people who have fallen out with their parents. You certainly don’t need to be a councillor, and the Nightstop staff do all the hard work, but in all honesty, I really like to listen to the people who come to stay, if they want to talk. I’m quite a calm person, and I know how much it must help for them to feel heard. I try to let them know that this is just a moment in time, and things will get better.
“Some of the young people are so grateful they feel like they want to give you something when they leave the next morning, but I tell them it’s not necessary, I enjoy hosting but remind people that if they want to do anything, there’s always the option of ‘paying it forward’ when they’re in a position to help others.
For me, it’s just lovely to see how a small thing can help people, as many of them have been through trauma, so it helps to rebuild their confidence in humanity.
“Thinking about some of the people I’ve hosted, I remember one young woman who was so nervous, and a real introvert. But she absolutely loved animals and was excited to meet my cat, Misty. That night, the cat slept on her bed, and they really enjoyed each other’s company. She said she had to give up her own pet at the time she was made homeless.
“Another young person who came to stay said she was born and raised in India as a young child, and as she looked out my window, she told me that the hilly moors reminded her of home. She asked if we could run up and down them, so there we were until 6 O’clock at night using our phones as torches running down these hills. It was great and something I’m sure both of us will remember forever.
“It’s nice to show young people that they’re not alone and that people, who they have never met, care about them. I think it really helps to give people hope and is a real boost, which is something they might need at that time.
“Nightstop is an extremely well run and safe service, and the best part is how flexible it is. There’s never any pressure on anyone, and the greatest reward is to hear that the young people have moved onto something positive. I would recommend hosting if you have a spare room as one night can help change someone’s life.”
