Life after No.3
Sabrina became homeless when she was 17 and moved into Oasis Housing @ No.3. Six years after moving out, Sabrina talks about her experience of hostel living, and how her life has changed...
"I lived at No.3 for just over a year. I am now 23, and I work as deputy manager of a social group for adults with learning difficulties. I'm also just about to start a degree in social work. I now have my own place, which is a one-bed conversion. It's lovely.
No.3 taught me how to be an adult. It matured me and gave me experience of what living by myself is like. I learnt practical things like cooking skills and budgeting.
I had other friends who were made homeless, who didn't live somewhere like No.3, who moved into their own accommodation and ended up being evicted as they didn't know what responsibility was. So the hard work I put into No.3 really helped me realise how important it was to keep my housing and to put the skills I was taught there into action.
It wasn't always easy living in a hostel, even one like No.3. It could be challenging to deal with a lot of conflicting behaviour from other residents. You have to get over barriers like coping with benefits, college, being part of the hostel and having to manage yourself.
The highlights of No.3 were meeting other people my age in the same situation and that there were really good staff. The residential activity holidays were the best: for some it was the first time they had ever been outside of London.
No.3 gave me time to think about where I wanted to go in life. If I was to give advice to other young people who find themselves homeless, it would be to take all the opportunities and services available to you, like Connexions (statutory youth service) and counselling. Try to pursue a career, go to college, get an education. Education is the key. Also being made homeless isn't the end of your life, you can still be what you want to be; everything is possible if you put your mind to it!"
The residential holidays that Sabrina mentioned are an important landmark in the lives of many residents. By giving a gift to Oasis, you can enable us to help many more people like Sabrina.