Con's story

Support Crisis at Christmas today

Donating to our Crisis at Christmas appeal can help someone like Con start to build their life beyond homelessness. Here's his story...

Con came to Crisis as a guest during Crisis at Christmas in December 2015 and stayed in one of Crisis’ hotels. Nine years later, Con has been a homeowner for over a year-and-a-half. He has also been a manager of a service, housing homeless people and prison leavers. In 2023, using his personal experience, knowledge, and skills, he volunteered for four shifts at a hotel in Aldgate in London as a general advice volunteer.

Con's experiences of homelessness

“After university I got a job in marketing, and after that I worked as a buyer at a furniture company. I then worked in the automotive industry for 18 years, in project management. I had a very good salary – but, by then, I struggled with substance abuse.  In 2006, my relationship with my long-term partner broke down and I lost my job."

In 2013, he started staying at his friend’s house, until his friend forced him to leave. In 2015, he was forced into homelessness.

“I was sleeping rough on the streets in London. I had to move around between
different neighbourhoods. The most frightening thing was that I started to get used to being homeless. When I started rough sleeping, I registered as homeless with my council, but I couldn’t prove that I’d been in the borough long enough to get any support. I didn't have a rental agreement to show them, to prove my connection to the area, as I’d been renting from a friend. I got legal aid and challenged the council’s decision, but after two years it ended with no resolution.”

Volunteering at Crisis at Christmas - while experiencing homelessness

"The first time I volunteered at a Crisis at Christmas centre in 2015, I was actually still rough sleeping. The other volunteers didn’t know my situation, I was really good at hiding it.

“That first Christmas in 2015, can you imagine what my life was like? Sleeping rough on the streets in December, in the freezing cold, and then going to the day centre where I was a guest and having a warm shower and something to eat. And then going to my late shift at Crisis at Christmas, and then leaving there and going back to sleep on the street.

“That Crisis at Christmas in 2015 was pivotal in turning my life around. I felt safe doing those shifts. With the other volunteers, I felt like this was my family. I’d never seen a group of people give so much of themselves.

"In 2022, I was an advisor to the manager at Camden day centre. And they changed the model of it for 2023, so I just ended up as a general advice volunteer, and I was at Aldgate Hotel."

Con's journey with Crisis

In January 2016, Con visited the London Crisis Skylight centre and when he first walked in, a lead worker called Dan took him in. He was then assigned a progression coach, Sarah, who supported him to get a place in an emergency winter shelter. He received support in overcoming his substance use.

"I then became a Crisis member for two years. I managed to get housed in some supported accommodation provided. But when I left there, I was still able to access
support through Crisis, and they paid my deposit. I had to move into a private-rented studio.

“My Crisis housing coach helped me find a room to rent privately. She helped me feel confident about the process. I was scared about how to manage benefits and rent, and I’d been burying my head in the sand until then. My job coach helped me with CV workshops and motivation workshops. I started to come out of myself, and to get job interviews. I slowly became more independent, and I needed to check in with my coach less and less.

“I worked with Crisis for about two years, I was attending their courses. And I started volunteering at a refugee centre in 2016 May, and then I started volunteering at St Giles Trust. And I did an NVQ Level Three in Advice and Guidance, and I did an NVQ Level Three – One, Two and Three – in Interpreting, because I’m a linguist.

“People can support Crisis in a number of ways, they can donate time; they can donate clothing; they can donate financially.

"When you think when I came as a guest of Crisis in December 2015, and I’ve now been a home-owner for over a year-and-a-half, or about a year-and-a-half – and you know, I was a manager of a service, housing homeless people and prison leavers; quite a journey, isn’t it?”

Find out more about our Crisis at Christmas appeal and how you can help to change someone's life this year.

*Con's story reflects a real member's experience, but his name and photo were changed to protect his identity.