I became homeless when my relationship broke down. I didn’t want to go into a hostel but living at Terry Street has really improved my life.
We had been living together for almost five years and was in shared accommodation. Things hadn’t been going well for the last year and I new I needed to move out.
For the first few months I stayed with friends. There were three of us staying in a one bedroomed flat. My mate wanted his privacy back so I got a list of hostels from Hull City Council and started phoning around.
I didn’t want to go into a hostel but living at Terry Street has really improved my life. Within 3 months I’ve got my Door Security qualification, and have now moved out into my own flat.
I can honestly say I like all the staff. I have always enjoyed talking to them, especially on an evening when its quiet and there’s not much to do. I enjoy the banter and you can always have a laugh. Because I know how nice everyone is I could never understand why some other people would be disrespectful to staff. I don’t think its their age and they can’t blame it on their upbringing. I was raised in foster care but I know how to be respectful. Some people just have a poor attitude.
I was offered plenty of help by staff but I am able to do a lot of stuff myself. I am very independent but I knew the staff were here to help me if I needed it.
I’ve met a few nice people in the hostel. Each month I’d go to the customer meetings, had a chance to say what I thought of things plus they’d always put on food.
I have regular contact with my younger sister and have helped baby sit whilst living here. She’s got two children so it’s been great helping her out and seeing my family.
I was given help completing the housing forms to bid on properties. A lot of the times I’d see what properties were available at the reception or on the notice board. Staff helped with bidding on flats as I had no clue how it worked.
I worked with Nigel Pickles from the Springboard programme. They help 18-24 year olds into training. I told him I wanted to work in security so he helped me enrol onto the SIA security course with RDS Training. Since completing the course I’ve joined Phoenix Security and will start working with them in the next few weeks.
My advice for anyone moving into Terry Street is to engage with staff and you will soon move out. Get your head down and put some work in. Keep yourself to yourself. Watch who you trust.
Today I’ve got the keys for my own flat and I am leaving Terry Street this morning. I am very happy now and it’s all a fresh start. My hopes for the future are simply to have a good life. I’d like to have a full time job, earn my own money and settle down with a nice girl.
Leon Robson-Hoff