Moving from a homeless hostel into business

“Tom has actively being volunteering whilst in the project on a construction/ garden project and has been very committed to attending a few times a week for the past 2 years. He is now ready to prepare to start up his business on a small scale and build this up again.”

Tom* became homeless in 2014 following a breakdown in his relationship with his partner. He was living in a hostel and is now living in Huggard Supported Housing. He was awarded a grant of £750 through Huggard to buy the necessary equipment to help him start up his construction building again.

Before become homeless Tom operated a well-established construction/building company that he had built up from the ground. His change in personal circumstances had a detrimental effect on his general health and wellbeing and his self-esteem and his business broke down and he found himself in need of relying on a sickness benefit and frontline homeless services to support himself.

The grant has helped Tom to purchase equipment to help start up his business in the local community.

This will help him to move away from relying on benefits and become more financially independent. Rebuilding his business has given him a great sense of purpose and he hopes to give back to the community by hiring people from the local area.

*Name has been changed