My story
by Ian, ex-resident of O'Hanlon House
How did I become homeless? Without going into the gory details, I think it best to say: "Quite easily, could have happened to anyone."
I wish there was something I could point to and say: "I became homeless because . . ." Alcoholic, nope. Substance abuse, nope. Returning to the community from a penal or care institution, ill equipped with the necessary life skills, nope. Ex-services, nope. Bankrupt, nope.
I am of course disqualified from belonging to the category that makes up the majority of the homeless in that I am not a couple with a young family in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation. Everyone forgets them - out of sight, you see.
I must be the one that got away, though I find it hard to believe there are not others out there like me. Those who have come away from two long-term relationships. A couple of kids by the first. No house, by either; and from both, a raft of debts with the creditors in hot pursuit of their share of nothing.
Not that I have absolutely nothing. There are 'new' initiatives abroad aimed at the rehabilitation and re-integration of the homeless. The intention being to break the 'revolving door' of care for the homeless, whereby a person is taken into 'care', summarily processed, relocated, and subsequently returns to previous behaviours leading to eventual readmission to 'care'.
I have been able to take advantage of the opportunities which these initiatives make available. I have met the requirements expected of me to progress through the system. I am re-educating and re-training myself and I have involved myself in voluntary work. I am developing a network of contacts which will eventually lead to employment. I have a room in 'low support' accommodation provided by a housing association. I can expect to be rehoused, either through my own efforts or by the city council. I do have a foreseeable future in Oxford.
I fear there are many that may not be able to take similar advantage of the opportunities available. What will they do? Where will they go? Already I see fewer of them on the streets. Why?
The rush to the implementation of ASBOs, Alcohol Free Zones and Exclusion Zones seems designed not to solve a problem but rather to remove it from our sight. In this case, however, it will not be into temporary bed and breakfast accommodation, where the problem can easily be overlooked and forgotten. I fear a number of the homeless are being driven away to become a problem on someone else's doorstep.
For myself, I would not have the hope which I have today without the efforts of the staff of O'Hanlon House. Despite the constraints of the system and the dwindling budgets they work within, and often without the thanks or the understanding of the people they strive to help, they devote themselves to making a crucial difference to the expectations and prospects of those they work with. They gave me time and support and continue to do so. I thank them.
I must also thank my son. He was concerned at the number of homeless on the streets of Oxford. He bought vouchers for a night's accommodation at the night shelter; when approached, he distributed these in preference to money. When I became homeless he supplied me with his last voucher for my first night in O'Hanlon House.
I was lucky. Others may not be.
Find out about Oxford Homeless Pathways' Voucher Scheme.
