When you find yourself living on the streets it can feel like all hope is lost – but thanks to one Weymouth charity and Dorset Council dozens of homeless people are getting their life back on track.
For years, the charity Bus Shelter has been providing shelter and support to Weymouth’s homeless population.
With 24-hour support, seven days a week, the residents at Bus Shelter have been able to get back on their feet and make new starts.
That physical support of accommodation and emotional support from case workers has now been further enhanced with digital support – so vital in today’s world.
Thanks to Dorset Council’s Digital Doorway scheme, and support from one of its volunteer digital champions, 15 Bus Shelter residents have the devices and skills needed to live in an online world.
Bus Shelter support worker, Kevin, said: “We referred our guests to Digital Doorway as it’s so crucial to be online these days. There was no way that any of them could afford their own devices.
“Being digital means they can access and apply for benefits more easily, bid for housing accommodation, search for jobs and complete online courses that could help them back into work.”
Bus Shelter has 12 living accommodation pods, a communal lounge, dining area and kitchen and laundry facilities.
Residents have access to 24 hours support, seven days a week. The charity also runs satellite homes elsewhere in the town for when residents can live more independently.
One of Dorset Council’s volunteer digital champions, Nigel, also visits the site every week to help residents access online services.
And Kevin, who was once homeless himself, has seen the difference both Bus Shelter and Digital Doorway makes to people’s lives.
He added: “Seeing people get their life back together, and families reunited, shows just how much can be achieved when people are given the right support.”
People who are helped by Bus Shelter come from a wide range of backgrounds and ages. Some are recovering addicts and alcoholics, some are victims of domestic abuse, others have recently been released from prison, while some have mental health issues and others have fallen on hard times unexpectedly.
Three people who needed Bus Shelter and Digital Doorway’s support for very different reasons are seeing the benefits.
Mark, 62, has always worked until living in very poor accommodation led to poor health and eventually an extended stay in hospital.
As a result, he fell into rent arrears and was evicted.
Bus Shelter came to his aid and Mark is how living in one of its satellite houses. Thanks to his Digital Doorway laptop, he is keeping on top of his Universal Credit and discovering a whole range of benefits.
Mark said: “I’m quite a quiet person and as well as all the very useful things I have learned to do with the laptop, I have also discovered I can do some nice activities like crosswords as well. The laptop has really been a godsend.”
For 36 year-old Jason it was a relationship breakdown that led to him being homeless.
The former chef was taken in by Bus Shelter and now, like Mark, lives in one its satellite homes.
Thanks to the support he has received Jason is working again, currently helping a friend part time with his construction business.
Using his Digital Doorway laptop, Jason is creating spreadsheets to support his friend’s business and the world of digital has also boosted his family life.
Jason has been able to reconnect with his three children who he regularly communicates with on video call.
“It’s been amazing to reconnect with my children, we Facetime each other all the time,” Jason said.
“I definitely want to return to full time work and the laptop makes it so much easier to search for and apply for jobs.”
Twenty-six year-old Megan was on remand and deemed intentionally homeless back in the spring. Six months later she not only has accommodation but also receives invaluable support from Bus Shelter.
And with her new Digital Doorway laptop she can keep on track of her debts and to start pay them off.
In January she will be joining an adult education foundation course at Weymouth College, and her new laptop will help with her learning.
“I take each day as it comes,” Megan said: “But thanks to this laptop and the support I get from Bus Shelter I feel like I have my independence back.”
Digital Doorway is a referral scheme and gifts laptops and tablets to people who either cannot afford a device or lack the skills and confidence to use one.