Sammy’s story

Before Christmas, Sammy was worried about the future. “When I was in the hotel, it was good. It made a lot of difference to my life. I was not worried about what might happen. I felt safe in the hotel and that I would be OK.”

Sammy loves reading, especially Catherine Cookson novels. “I like games too, like jigsaw puzzles and sudoku and other crosswords and word games.” The hotel was a chance to relax and be herself. “I could see people. There was lots of stuff to do.”

Sammy was made homeless when her home was burned down. “I was sent to a hostel. My grandfather was put in a place for people with dementia.”

Sammy grew up in Dominica, where she studied literature and sociology. “I worked as a teacher, teaching small children. I enjoyed that.” At 30, she had a stroke. “I moved back in with my father and I was in and out of hospital for a while. I couldn’t go back to teaching. I couldn’t do anything like I could do before. It affected my speech too.”

Six years ago, Sammy came to the UK. “I came here to try and have a better life. I was hoping that I could find some other kind of work.” Sammy’s immigration status was never settled, so she has not been able to work. It also meant she could not access any public support when the fire destroyed her home.

“I found out about Crisis when I was in the hostel. I came to the Crisis hotel in December and I stayed there for a month.”

“My room was good. The food was excellent. The people working there, the volunteers – they were great.”

Sammy was able to get more help and support at the hotel. “I went to see the podiatrist who helped me with my feet and offered me shoes that have helped me. I had a cut on my foot. I didn’t have any good shoes, so they made a real difference.”

She was assigned a coach with St Mungos, who partnered with Crisis to deliver some of the advice in the Crisis at Christmas hotels. They helped her apply for the right to remain.

“I’m currently waiting for my immigration status to be settled.” She has somewhere safe to stay while her application is processed. “It’s nice where I am now.”

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