In the future, I see myself in my own house with my kids. I want to be volunteering and donating to my community, helping others like I am being helped by Beam. My aim is to help those in need in order to eradicate homelessness for good. That's because I know what it’s like to be on this side of homelessness now.
When the company I was working for went into administration during the lockdown, I became homeless. I didn't have any savings as I have been working hard to pay off my university fees. I had to take out private loans because I was not eligible for the government student loans. I've been sleeping in a car for the last month with nowhere to go.
It feels like my life has been turned upside down over the last month and it's been one of the toughest experiences I have ever had to face. It has shown me the importance of helping each other and I see it as a test I must overcome. I have to keep fighting so my children have a dad.
I am now working with Lambeth Council, who referred me to Beam, to help me get back on my feet. It is so important that I get back into work so I can be considered by private landlords to rent their property. I have done warehouse roles before and know it is something I can excel at. I enjoy being in jobs that help other people out.
My long term goal is to eventually go into accounting and finance, which is what I studied at university. The opportunity to start studying my CIMA alongside my job will take me closer to achieving this dream and I am now starting to look forward to what the future might hold.