Kevin's Story

Kevin initially occupied one of three Charnwood beds; this was due to being street homeless. Within a week, Kevin was referred internally to one of our supported living projects, Kevin was in his words “forever grateful.”

Kevin was in a turbulent long-term relationship; they have a son together too. However, the relationship is that of a baneful one.

Kevin lives with mental health issues and a drug addiction, this often lead to erratic behaviour and eventually lead to a prison sentence.

There has been a couple of occasions whereby, Kevin has experienced suicidal thoughts and this alongside the drugs, mental health and erratic behaviour has caused his relationship to break down recently. This leaving Kevin entrenched in using drugs daily and struggling with budgeting. Kevin was referred to our harm reduction team and attended NA meetings, this was something that Kevin did struggle with, but he kept on going.

Kevin works with our emotional and wellbeing team around his mental health

Music is Kevin’s comfort, and he loves to make music and rap. Due to this, Kevin became involved in wellbeing activities within our services and played music alongside another resident. Kevin was given seven hundred hours of recording for free; Kevin often visits the studio nearby in another city.

Due to not being able to budget well, staff have completed income and expenditure with Kevin and encouraged him to pay his personal charge each month. Kevin now pays his personal charge and has said that he realises that he must keep a roof over his head to receive the support he gets. Kevin says he could not be more grateful for what the staff do for him.

Kevin and his partner are working things out, slowly but surely. Kevin is still using drugs but continues to engage in recovery support as he so desperately want to be clean.

Kevin has bad days and not so bad days and says this is a massive achievement because all his days used to be bad.