{"id":5994,"date":"2023-03-29T17:15:20","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T16:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.depaul.org.uk\/?post_type=stories&p=5994"},"modified":"2023-10-23T16:34:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T15:34:02","slug":"zaras-story","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/www.depaul.org.uk\/stories\/zaras-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Zara’s story"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Since Zara, 18, found support from Depaul UK she has been daring to dream of a brighter future. But as the cost-of-living crisis continues, those dreams are fading.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been running away since I was 13 or 14. My dad was abusive and no one at my mum\u2019s home really cared about me \u2013 so I ran away.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI tried living with my sister in Bournemouth, getting by on her student loan and food banks, but we just couldn\u2019t manage. I became homeless. I was given temporary accommodation, which was a big relief but a long way from anyone I knew. At last, I made it to Depaul UK housing, sharing with other people in a similar situation to me.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m 18. I\u2019ve been living here for nearly three years. We share a kitchen, I\u2019ve got a bedroom and there’s a common room. But now it\u2019s hard. I struggle sometimes with my mental health. Everything\u2019s got expensive. You have to look for the cheapest things everywhere. After I pay the service charge, I\u2019ve only got about \u00a31 a day left for food. That\u2019s not a joke.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI sometimes ask family and friends for help, but they don\u2019t have money either. The support workers do what they can. They give us food bank vouchers, but that\u2019s the most they can do. It\u2019s embarrassing to say to people I don\u2019t have enough food. I don\u2019t tell them. Everyone living here has at least gone one day where they\u2019ve eaten nothing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t have the money to eat, then you don\u2019t really have a chance.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cDepaul UK gave us budgeting classes to help us learn how to handle money well. And they\u2019ve also helped get me chances. I\u2019m training to be a chef. I\u2019m lucky because my college is a 15-minute walk down the road. Anywhere else, I couldn\u2019t pay for my travel.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d really like to be able to fit in and go out with friends like other people do, but I just can\u2019t because affording food is more important. Some days I do feel left out, but I know I have to just get on with it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I could live in my own place. I want to be able to pay rent like everyone else does. But jobs don\u2019t pay enough. One day, I want to earn good money \u2013 maybe I can open a restaurant \u2013 but right now I don\u2019t know how I\u2019m ever going to get there.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cDuring Covid, the Government raised the level of credit a bit. That made things manageable. But then they reduced it back and now it\u2019s not manageable, it\u2019s not at all.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Urgent winter appeal <\/h2>\n

This winter there are thousands of young people in the UK with no safe place to live or regular bed to sleep in. Help a young person at risk of homelessness reach a safe place tonight.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n \n \n\n \n \n

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Uncovering the realities of homelessness <\/h2>\n

Most people think homelessness is about sleeping rough. But homelessness can be experienced in different ways and is often hidden from society. This is especially true for young people. Find out more.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n \n \n\n \n \n

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how we prevent homelessness: Nightstop <\/h2>\n

No young person should have to sleep rough or have to spend the night in an unsafe place. This is why we run Nightstop. Find out more about Nightstop. <\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n

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