Gina's story: Hopeless and homeless, until Home-Start helped us After the shock of eviction shortly after giving birth, this mother found herself homeless, isolated and overwhelmed, caring for four young children and her blind husband. Living in a cramped, unsafe hostel pushed her to breaking point, but Home-Start’s support became a lifeline. Gina shares her story... "Never in my wildest dreams did I think when I was growing up, or when I was working and putting into the system, by working crazy hours, did I ever think we’d have been homeless. But it goes to show it can happen to anyone at any given moment, not having anywhere to call home. In the cold hostel room, one thought that kept me going was that we are together, and we won’t be forgotten and Home-Start was there throughout it all. "Before we were evicted from our home, I had just given birth to my fourth child, we had moved from Manchester to London, and I was caring full-time for my husband, who is registered blind. At that time, I had three children under the age of two, what they call Irish triplets, as well as a six-year-old. Plus, the guide dog in a small, rented accommodation. "We’d not long moved to London so my husband could be closer to his family and community, but the reality was overwhelming. We were closer to them, but still not close enough. I had given up my job as a teacher so he and the children could have the support they needed. Don’t get me wrong, my husband was, and always has, helped where he can, but I didn’t realise at the time how isolated I had become, or how unwell I was mentally. "I didn’t have any friends nearby or any family support of my own, and my mental health was at its lowest point. Most days, I didn’t leave the house. I stayed in my pyjamas all the time, and didn’t brush my hair, I didn’t see the point. "A local family support worker suggested Home-Start to me. I didn’t really understand what they did, I just knew I needed to do something, anything. "When Anna from Home-Start first came to my house, I didn’t want her there. She was a stranger, and I felt ashamed of how chaotic my life had become. But she didn’t judge me. She treated me like a human being. She made me feel normal when everything felt anything but. She sat with me, with three crying babies, and slightly older child, a guide dog, and a struggling household. She made me feel like it was all going to be okay. "Anna matched me with a regular home-visiting volunteer called Karina. Karina didn’t come to “fix” me. She came to sit with me. Sometimes she braided my hair. Sometimes she helped me zip up my coat, and she even helped me get on a bus with a double buggy for the first time! She helped me feel like a woman again, not just a carer or a mum who was trying to survive. "Unfortunately, during this testing time, the private landlord evicted us, through no fault of our own. We were basically made homeless overnight. We were offered to stay at a hostel, living there was a nightmare. "It wasn't safe, I didn’t feel safe, but it’s what we had and had to make the most of it. It was all that was available to us. We had one cold, dark room with 4 single beds, a bunkbed, and a small, unequipped kitchen area. "It was filthy and no matter how much I bleached and cleaned it still felt dirty. There was one set of drawers, the rest of our clothes were stored in laundry/plastic bags the whole time we lived there. We ended up putting all the beds together in a row, that’s how we slept and kept warm. Doing it this was also worked to stop the little ones rolling off, they were so small at the time. "I made a little couch for the children with a disused toddler bed and managed to get some second-hand bedding from the bazaar the hostel ran once a week, through donations. And there was nowhere safe for the kids to play, except at a crèche the hostel ran some days. "There was no personal space. If I needed to do any important paperwork it would have to be be done in the bathroom away from the children so I could focus and get it done. "Most days there was no heating or hot water. It was tiny. With the state of mind I was in I’d set the fire alarms off whilst attempting put some dinner together for the family. This was a daily occurrence for us. The windows did not open fully and there were no curtains. "The bathroom was cold and away from our room. We didn’t have to share, but I would find people in our bathroom, so I had to supervise the children at all because they were only 1,2,3 and 7 years old at the time. Other times people tried to enter our room when we were in there, so I made sure it was always locked. "On top of all this, the hostel was also quite far from our old home, and we’d have to travel 3 miles to see family and get to the children’s school. We used to walk most of the time as money was tight and I couldn't afford public transport. It felt like a treat when we could get a bus or train back to our room on a rainy day especially. I didn’t have a coat with a hood, so I used to get drenched. But I made sure my husband, and children had the basics before me. "But Anna stood by us and helped so much during this time, she read out letters I couldn’t bear to look at. She made sure my mental health was ok and she made sure I didn’t feel alone even though it was very lonely at times. I’d always get a phone call if not a visit. Anna made my heart smile and made me feel warm and alive. "When the phone call finally came through telling us that we had won our case, and we could secure housing for our family, it was raining, and my husband I were on a trip with our little ones with their nursery to the park. Everyone including the teachers screamed with joy and tears, they had always supported us through the entire process. They knew we shouldn’t have been in that situation to begin with. Home-Start was over the moon for us too. "We were only to supposed to be in the hostel for six weeks, but that turned into eleven months. Home-Start never walked away, Anna never gave up on us. "I am thankful that the children don’t remember much about that awful time. But I remember. There were Christmases where Home-Start vouchers meant my children didn’t go without food or gifts. At a time when I felt shame about needing help, those small acts of kindness and care were a lifeline. They protected my children from seeing our struggle. "Through Home-Start, I found my voice, even when we ended up on national news and went to court, Anna stood beside us. She believed in us, in me, when I didn’t believe in myself. "The council apologised to us in the end. We should never have been made homeless. We survived it with Home-Start’s help. Proving I wasn't wrong and that our fight was right. "All of this was nine years ago. Today, I am not that woman in pyjamas anymore. Since then, have been diagnosed with ADHD, and two of my children are also neurodivergent, which has brought its own challenges and joys. "I am no longer alone or silent. I have found confidence to speak publicly, I advocate for unpaid carers, and I co-chair a carers board. I am also applying to become a Home-Start trustee and am ready to give back to families in the same way I was supported. If someone had told me this is what I would be doing, that I would feel empowered, I would not have believed it one bit. "I am looking to start training to become a Home-Start volunteer too. Offering support and hope to other parents who are struggling would mean the world to me, as I know how much of a difference this can make to families. "Home-Start didn’t just support me in a crisis. They helped me find myself again, and this support has had lasting effects on me and my family."I can’t thank Anna, Karina and Home-Start enough. In my opinion, more people should volunteer, and more people should reach out for help. Both things can change lives for the better, I am living proof." Read Family Matters magazine Read family stories just like Gemma's in our bi-annual supporter magazine. You can also sign up to get a hard copy posted to your house. Download now Manage Cookie Preferences