Read Abi's story
Hear more about Abi, and how with tailored support she gained confidence to live independently.
For roughly two-thirds of young people facing homelessness, life at home can become so difficult that leaving is the only option*.
But leaving home is only the start of a much longer road.
A young person in crisis can suddenly find they have to cope alone with rent, bills, food, and the pressures of daily life – often while carrying trauma and overwhelming anxiety.
Many of us rely on the support and guidance of family when setting up a home and learning to live independently. For the young people we work with, that safety net is missing. That’s why we are asking for your support today.
We work alongside young people who have experienced family breakdown, trauma, poor mental health or financial hardship. We provide practical, tailored support to help them find stability, build confidence, and learn the skills they need for independent living.
Your gift today could make all the difference for a young person learning to cope in a crisis.
From a young age, she was a carer for her younger brother, who has complex needs. As the oldest child in a single-parent family, too much fell on her shoulders.
Over time, the strain and pressure of home became too much. Abi lived in a constant state of anxiety, never knowing when things might erupt. She even kept her belongings packed, ready to leave if she had to.
By sixth form, Abi had reached crisis point and was referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
With support, she recognised that home was no longer safe and she needed a way out. Eventually, she was offered her own flat.
When Abi first saw her flat, it was completely bare. No bed. No mattress. She didn’t know how to set up bills or manage utilities. Although she had a place to live, she didn’t know how to cope alone.
Overwhelmed and anxious, Abi avoided the flat and spent months sofa-surfing. Without the right support, she was dangerously close to hitting crisis point and facing homelessness again. That’s when she was referred to Depaul UK.
We worked with Abi through the practical steps she couldn’t face alone, supporting her to apply for grants and benefits, set up bills, and secure essentials like a bed, mattress and curtains. When money was so tight she was eating one meal a day, we arranged food bank support.
Only then could Abi move in safely and start to rebuild her life.
Hear more about Abi, and how with tailored support she gained confidence to live independently.
That support was the turning point. Abi no longer lay awake terrified she couldn’t pay her rent or buy food.
Today, she feels confident managing her home. She’s completed a teacher training course and is now a Depaul UK client representative, using her voice and experience to help shape support for other young people facing homelessness.
A place to stay isn’t enough. A bare flat, unpaid bills, and isolation can quickly push a young person back into crisis. Without the right support, many young people like Abi are at real risk of homelessness.
Please give today so more young people like Abi can get the support and stability they need to avoid crisis and build a brighter future.
Your gift can equip a young person with the life skills, tools, and confidence needed to live an independent life, away from the dangers of homelessness. Thank you.
*Depaul UK data.