18 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 7 February 2011
www.drinkanddrugsnews.com
Vicky is convinced that living in supported housing has
been a vital part of her recovery journey. She explains
how, after 40 years of heroin addiction and in the face of a
dramatic and unexpected challenge to her recovery, she
found support and strength at St James’ House.
‘I’ve been in recovery for 21 months now
–
after rehab, I moved in to a flat at St James
House and it has made a world of difference to
me. Coming out of rehab was a bit of a shock in
many ways, being in the community again felt a
bit “in your face”. If I hadn’t had the housing it
would have been very damaging and perhaps
my recovery wouldn’t have lasted.
Confidence to move forward
‘Although I was out of rehab, my confidence was
still low and it’s the support that I received at
the house that has changed that. I never believed
I could do college and so I would never have
gone if I’d been left on my own but now I’m
studying social sciences at college three days a
week. Being at the house has given me the
stability to commit to the course and the support
there has built my confidence and now my
studies are going really well!
‘My time is pretty full – as well as college I
spend a day each week offering peer support at
the rehab centre and have now been appointed
to a proper volunteer position. Without the
supported housing, I wouldn’t have done these
things – I wouldn’t be moving forward with my
life like this, in fact, I probably would have got
bored, and boredom is dangerous for me.
Re-learning life skills
‘After 40 years as a heroin addict with a totally
chaotic life, I can’t remember when I last
successfully ran a home. Being in the supported
housing has given me independence but also a
place and space to learn to manage budgets, pay
my bills and not have to deal with the
uncertainties and worries that I was used to.
‘When people ask me how I feel in supported
housing the word that springs to mind straight
away is “safe”. And that’s so important for me –
I’d never really been straight before and it can
be confusing.
‘One of the great things about where I’ve
been living is the community we’ve built there.
Everybody there is abstinent and we understand
each other’s experiences and so, as well as the
“formal” support, there is a really strong peer
support network.
A shock around the corner
‘I’ve stayed in the House longer than most
because, just as I was getting my life back, there
was another challenge waiting for me. A year to
the day from getting clean, I was diagnosed with
cancer. Being in supported housing had already
done so much for me but the help I got was
amazing. It made a traumatic experience a lot
easier – I had company and support not just
getting to the hospital but also in the
appointments themselves. Often, what the
doctors were saying was too much for me to
take in but my support team stayed with me and
helped me to understand what was going on and
feel strong enough to get through it. I’ve just
been given the allclear last week and I am
feeling brave and confident enough to move on
and I’m in the process of getting a property of
my own.
‘What do I feel that recovery housing has
done for me? Simple it’s given me the chance I
needed.’
For more information visit
www.ttprecoverycommunities.co.uk
or call 0845 2413401
SUPPORTED HOUSING HAS
BEEN CRUCIAL TO MY RECOVERY
Housing at the Heart of Recovery
Advertising feature
‘What do I feel
that recovery
housing has done
for me? Simple –
it’s given me the
chance I needed.’