Ted's Story

Ted, 48 years old

I am 48 years of age and have been with the Simon Community for just over a year now.  My descent into becoming homeless really began when I decided to leave Belfast to begin studying in Derry.  I gave up my flat and left a stable home environment and I knew I was taking a chance as I was 37 at this stage but I thought that by moving up there it would save me the hassle of travelling everyday and believed that an education would improve my choices in life.  I would have options from labouring and digging ditches right up to a professional career once I obtained a degree. 

I went through college and completed the three years of the course.  However, just around the time of my final examinations a major problem occurred in my relationship, which left me extremely traumatised.  So by the time I returned to Belfast I was just an emotional and psychological wreck.  I stayed with various family members who all had their own families, sleeping on a sofa and a spare room for a while.  Whilst in the midst of this I was still in shock about what had happened. 

As I struggled to get back on my feet, there was a breakdown in relationship with the family member I was currently staying with and felt that it was in my interest to move out into private accommodation.  I moved in and out of multi-occupancy dwellings where I had my own room and shared communal areas. 

I did not want to deal with the stigma of moving into a homeless hostel because society in general look down their noses at people in hostels.  I was trying to avoid this by staying independent taking any job that I could get just to pay the rent.  The straw finally broke when the landlord decided to do renovations to the site and so gave me 2 days notice to move for at least three months.  I was unable to stay with family for that length of time and so at this stage the only option I could see was to present myself as homeless.  I gave away anything that I couldn't carry to a charity shop and left some prized items with family and then reported into the Morning Star hostel the following week. 

I started doing some courses and exercising to lift my mind and body.  I was in the Morning Star for a couple of months at this stage when the Simon Community approached me and explained about their move on flats and the services they provide. I immediately jumped for it and was put on a waiting list.  I was offered a place with the Simon Community on the Antrim road and moved in.  It was a very weird sensation after I came out of a hostel with lots of people and into independent living.  It was a shock to the system and there was no preparation for moving into a situation where I was now in control of my life. However, there were support workers there to offer support and advice.  I felt that I had finally obtained something although I knew there was still a long way to go.  I have found that people have snubbed me since becoming homeless so even my social life has suffered. 

I then got the opportunity to move to a Simon Community hostel in an area where I was initially from.  I was stunned by the change in environment, the flat that I was given faced onto the back garden, which was amazing.  I started to feel good then and that I was achieving things and my mind was starting to fall into the right place.  I have been engaged with the staff here and have developed a strategy on how to move on.  However, I had a cycling accident and damaged my leg quite badly which had to be operated on in January.  I am still having problems with it which means I may have difficulties getting back into work.

I am now at a point in my life that I am nearly 50 and am still wondering what am I going to do with my life. I am taking one step at a time and plan to get back into exercise at a slow pace and possibly go back to studying for a post graduate degree.  I am under consideration for accommodation but am just waiting for an offer to be made.