Damien’s Story
Damien is a young person, with neurodiversity, who faced significant challenges after being street homeless. With limited support and a history of mistrusting professionals, Damien struggled to manage his housing and finances. However, with the dedicated support of the hyh team, Damien made incredible progress, overcoming financial hurdles and building the confidence to take control of his life.
Initial support
When hyh first supported Damien, he was homeless, scared, and just 17 years old. He had been attacked while sleeping rough, adding to his fears. Damien is on the autism spectrum and has struggled with social anxiety since he was young. His childhood had been difficult, moving in and out of care, and he found it hard to trust support workers because of past disappointments.
Initially, hyh’s HUB service helped Damien by providing him with a safe place to stay in emergency temporary accommodation. However, Damien found it difficult to stay engaged, and the support ended.
Two years later
At 18, Damien found support from hyh again. This time, things were different. Damien had been given social housing, but was at risk of eviction due to rent arrears and other debts. Living on his own at such a young age, with a limited support network, felt overwhelming and he needed help to manage his home and finances.
At first, Damien struggled to accept the support. However, after a few meetings, trust started to build. Over the next six months, hyh worked with Damien, step by step, tackling one challenge at a time, so he wouldn’t feel overwhelmed. The first priority was making sure Damien received all the financial benefits he was entitled to. hyh also helped him arrange a more manageable monthly plan for his Universal Credit deductions, which had been taking over 40% of his income, resulting in him being unable to buy food.
Once Damien’s finances were under control, hyh worked through his debts, focusing on the ones that put his home at risk (such as council tax and rent arrears). At first, hyh made the calls to set up payment plans. As Damien’s confidence grew, he started making the calls himself. His hyh worker was there for support, quietly encouraging him. One of the last steps was teaching Damien how to budget. With hyh’s guidance, he kept track of his income and expenses, which made him feel more in control and confident.
Moving forward
At just 18, managing your own home can be daunting, especially without a support network. For Damien, who is neurodiverse, it was even harder. Today, he is in a positive relationship, debt-free, and thriving. He’s enrolled in college and working towards a bright future in accounting. Most importantly, he’s no longer at risk of homelessness. He’s no longer just surviving—he’s living, growing, and managing his own life.
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