Beacon: sleeping in a friend’s car
ASKED to leave by his family when his drinking got out of control, Adam* was sleeping in a friend’s car. When his mental health deteriorated, he threatened to jump off a high-rise building. Thankfully he was stopped.
Adam was pointed in the direction of Beacon who offered him accommodation and support. His first placement was away from family support. He couldn’t settle and found himself barred for verbal aggression from Forward Leeds, the organisation that was supporting him with his alcohol use.
Beacon relocated Adam to be closer to his support network. He then began to thrive. Forward Leeds agreed to start working with him again and he engaged brilliantly, even doing peer support work.
On Adam’s birthday there was multiple cause for celebration. Not only did he receive an offer for a flat from Leeds City Council, but he was also offered a place within St. Anne’s detox programme. With a bit of negotiation Beacon managed to organise it so Adam could take up the detox placement first with support to set up the new flat as a goal for the end of the programme.
“Adam successfully completed his 13-weeks in rehab and was able to move straight from there into his new home,” commented Karen who was Adam’s Beacon support worker for 18 months.
“He continues to volunteer in peer support and is also training to be an Alcohol Worker which is fantastic. Beacon supported him to get a roof over his head and find some stability which meant that Adam has been able to address his other issues.”
*Not his real name