{"id":8673,"date":"2025-04-15T13:50:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T12:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.depaul.org.uk\/?post_type=blog&p=8673"},"modified":"2025-04-15T17:38:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T16:38:03","slug":"she-just-needed-someone-in-her-corner","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.depaul.org.uk\/blog\/she-just-needed-someone-in-her-corner\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cShe just needed someone in her corner\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cShe just needed someone in her corner\u201d: Samalie on supporting Susan, a young person in need, and her host Joanne through Depaul UK\u2019s Supported Lodgings.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Samalie Musisi, Supported Lodgings Coordinator, Depaul UK\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I first met Susan, she was quiet, withdrawn, and understandably guarded. At 18, she was dealing with a huge amount of loss\u2014grieving the recent death of both her parents and trying to come to terms with dropping out of university. On paper, she was referred to us as \u201cat risk of homelessness,\u201d but let me tell you, that label doesn\u2019t capture the whole story. Behind that label was a young woman who had lost her way and was trying to figure out what came next. It wasn\u2019t just about a roof over her head\u2014it was about rebuilding trust, rebuilding herself. What Susan needed more than anything at that moment was someone in her corner, rooting for her, believing she could get back on track\u2014and that\u2019s exactly what I was there to do.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My name is Samalie, and I\u2019m a Supported Lodgings Coordinator at Depaul UK, working closely with young people aged 16\u201325 who are at risk of homelessness\u2014often due to family breakdown, bereavement, or a lack of stable, supportive environments. I link young people with hosts in the community, and we work together to rebuild their confidence, develop life skills, and guide them towards independence at their own pace.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Young people like Susan often fall through the cracks\u2014too vulnerable to live independently, but they need a consistent, caring presence and a space that feels like home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Supported Lodgings<\/a> is not a one-size-fits-all approach\u2014it\u2019s about seeing the whole person and responding with care, flexibility, and empathy. <\/span><\/p>\n

When I matched Susan with host Joanne, who\u2019d worked as a foster carer for years, I knew it could be the beginning of something stable. Joanne doesn\u2019t try to take over\u2014she doesn\u2019t try to play mum\u2014but she had this incredible balance of kindness and firmness. Exactly what Susan needed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From day one, Joanne and I worked hand-in-hand to support Susan in a way that felt real and steady. Joanne offered the safe, stable home Susan needed \u2014 a place where she could finally exhale. I focused on the day-to-day encouragement: helping her rebuild her confidence, guiding her through the steps to start her course, and reminding her that a different future was possible.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Joanne<\/p>\n

In the beginning, Susan wasn\u2019t engaging much. She wasn\u2019t studying or working. Her confidence was low, and she doubted her own ability to move forward. But we saw the potential in her straight away. She\u2019s naturally resilient\u2014always polite, always with a smile, even on the tough days. We gave her space, but we stayed consistent. We were always there.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over time, we started seeing shifts. Joanne would sit with her and show her how to cook, plan meals, and budget. I supported her with goal setting and talked through different options for college. Slowly, Susan started believing that maybe, just maybe, she could try again.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never forget the day she enrolled in a hospitality course. She was so nervous about the entrance assessment she almost didn\u2019t go. I called her that morning and said, \u201cYou\u2019ve got this. Just get there\u2014we\u2019ll be proud no matter what.\u201d She made it through the door, and that day became the turning point.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the next year, myself and Joanne watched Susan come back to life. She started making friends. She began to plan for the future. She came to meetings excited to tell me what she\u2019d learned in class. Joanne and I worked as a team to make sure she stayed on track, but Susan did the heavy lifting. She put in the work.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And now, she\u2019s just finished college, is actively job-hunting. She\u2019s hoping to find something in hospitality\u2014she\u2019s got a real heart for working with people. She\u2019s in such a different place now. She\u2019s confident, motivated, and full of hope. It\u2019s honestly one of the most rewarding transformations I\u2019ve seen in my work.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s life-changing\u2014for all of us\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Supported Lodgings is a lifeline for young people at risk of homelessness\u2014but it\u2019s not without its challenges. The heart of the model is a carefully built relationship between a young person and their host, who offers not just a room, but emotional support, structure, and a sense of safety. But sourcing and retaining hosts is an ongoing struggle. The cost-of-living crisis, lack of public awareness, and limited financial incentives make it tough to recruit new hosts, even as demand for placements rises.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The young people referred to our service often come with complex needs\u2014experiences of trauma, disrupted education, or time spent in care or temporary accommodation. Balancing those needs with a safe, stable home environment requires ongoing support, supervision, and flexibility. Depaul UK’s team works tirelessly to provide wraparound care, but we face challenges with tight budgets, staff capacity, and a lack of suitable move-on options once placements end.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When I think back to my early work supporting young people in accommodation, I remember how we used to move them straight into their own flats. Yes, it was cheaper, but honestly, it was a lot for an 18-year-old. Imagine: \u201cHere\u2019s your flat. You\u2019re on your own.\u201d No preparation. No support. That\u2019s the difference with Supported Lodgings. We make sure young people aren\u2019t alone to start with. They\u2019re gradually practising what it\u2019s like to manage their own space. They learn to manage a budget, and take on daily responsibilities\u2014like cooking, doing laundry, and more\u2014things many of them have never had the chance to do before. It\u2019s shocking, but it\u2019s the reality.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before a young person even moves in with their host, we make sure the host knows if they\u2019ve never cooked before or need extra help with budgeting. This way, when they\u2019re ready for their own place, they\u2019ve already gained essential skills. It\u2019s all about building confidence, and our hosts play a huge role in this. They\u2019re not just offering a roof\u2014they\u2019re teaching young people life skills and providing ongoing support, whether it\u2019s finding a course or just being there to listen.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Susan still has a way to go. The job market isn\u2019t easy. But she\u2019s standing on her own two feet now, with the kind of self-belief that can\u2019t be taught\u2014it\u2019s earned. And I couldn\u2019t be more proud of her.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Supported Lodgings has the power to be life-changing\u2014not just for the young person, but for the community around them. With the right support, a safe home, and a stable relationship, a young person can rebuild their confidence, pursue education or employment, and take steps toward independence. It\u2019s a simple model with a profound impact\u2014and with more investment and awareness, it could change even more lives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

watch joanne’s short video reflecting on what <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> like to open your home to a young person\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n