Former rough sleeper inspires others through unique service

A former rough sleeper who used a unique service to beat addiction and move off the streets is inspiring others to follow in his footsteps after joining the same Kensington and Chelsea Council team that helped him turn his life around.

Mark was homeless and staying in a hostel in the borough when he was assisted by the Council's Rough Sleeper Dual Diagnosis Service (RSDDS).

The therapeutic, peer-led programme, the only one of its kind in the country, is run by officers with experience of homelessness, mental health issues and addiction who provide counselling and access to detox and rehab.

The service had such a positive impact on his own life that Mark decided to become a trained peer adviser himself and he is now part of the three-person team running the programme.

'If he can do it, maybe I can too'

Mark (pictured left), who joined the Council after completing a peer support training course, said:

"I have a lot of lived experience through being a rough sleeper, of being in mental hospitals and prisons and of using services like soup kitchens. I was in the process of getting my life back together through recovery and staying clean and this service really helped me.

"Thanks to the RSDDS, I have completely changed my life around - I am now three-and-a-half years clean and living an independent life in my own flat.

"There are some clients that come into the group who know me and they go 'what happened to you, you used to be so bad?'. Now they can see that I've changed my life and I hope it can be quite inspiring to them, that they can look at me and think 'well, if he can do it, maybe I can do it too'.

"It gives me purpose and it's quite powerful when you can be a part of someone's recovery and see them getting better, because we know how important that help can be."

Service manager Gavin said:

"The peer support approach is very important. We can share our own experiences with the clients and say that this is what we did to sort our lives out, it's what we suggest you do and it's up to you whether you want to do it.

"Clients can't really argue with that. They can't say 'you don't know what it's like' because we do. We know exactly what it's like because we have been where they are."

Fellow team member Charlotte added:

"We have been there, so we are not judgemental and can be understanding. I feel quite passionate about this because there wasn't anything like it on offer when I was struggling. Perhaps if there had been I might not have been using for as long as I was."

The Service is now approaching the milestone of having supported 30 rough sleepers through various stages of recovery. This includes 27 who have entered rehab and 23 who have become abstinent from substances.

A further 15 clients- including Mark - have moved off the streets and into their own permanent homes, which is the service's ultimate aim.

Mark explained:

"I'd always lived in supported accommodation or been street homeless or in some kind of institution, so had never had my own tenancy and my own keys before.

"When they gave me the keys, I travelled back on the train to show my friends and family. I remember that day, it was really lovely.

"I will soon have been living independently for two years and it's amazing. It can be stressful, but it feels like I'm contributing to society, paying my way and being responsible."

Cllr Sof McVeigh said:

"Our team know better than anyone how tough life can be when you are sleeping rough or battling addiction and they use those unique insights and experiences to make a genuine difference to people at their lowest ebb.

"While we do not have many rough sleepers in our borough, our team's work has meant that 15 people are now going to bed each night in their own homes rather than on the cold streets.

"No-one should have to sleep on the streets and we are committed to providing innovative services that support our most vulnerable residents when they need it most."

You can find more information about the support available for rough sleepers in Kensington and Chelsea on the Council's website.

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