Mike contacted Housing Options Scotland, looking for support. He was in temporary accommodation on a Scottish island, following a relationship breakdown that had left him homeless.
He had moved to the island just a few months prior, leaving behind a secure tenancy, and a job in Edinburgh.
Mike was keen to move back to Edinburgh or the surrounding areas. The temporary accommodation he was staying in was small and expensive, and he was unable to claim benefits.
“The accommodation was just a room with a kitchen and was costing me £150 a week.”
Due to his not having lived in there for more than 6 months, the local authority didn’t have a legal duty to house him – however they had provided emergency accommodation.
He had applied to the housing association he had been a tenant of before in Edinburgh, and a housing officer has recommended he contact Housing Options Scotland.
“I was given the telephone number by a housing officer from Blackwood. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, and they said Housing Options Scotland might be able to help.”
Mike was feeling both geographically, and socially, isolated.
“I was 300 miles from home and didn’t know anyone. The only people I knew were my ex-partner’s friends. I had nobody.”
Mike filled in a Get Help form, and soon after received a call from one of our Housing Options Brokers. The broker provided Mike with information around homelessness, and liaised with the housing association he had applied to. The broker invited Mike to give regular updates and to get in touch if he needed to discuss anything.
“It was great to have someone to talk to who understood my plight.”
Mike’s former housing association was able to offer him a vacant property, however he had to wait until the property had been vacated and made ready for a new tenant. Mike’s broker helped him to ensure that he was able to stay in his temporary accommodation until the new property was ready for him to move in.
Eventually Mike was able to move into the property, which was located in East Lothian – and he is feeling much more secure in his preferred area.
“It’s great to be back where I want to be. I’ve got my job back, and I’m standing on my own two feet again.”
Mike would recommend that anyone in his situation should seek help from an organisation like Housing Options Scotland.
“Find someone to listen to you, someone you can talk to and explain your situation to. Having a person to phone, in an organisation like yourselves, is really helpful.”