Making change happen

Two people laughing together outdoors, symbolising hope after homelessness

Making change happen

Every story matters, building futures free from homelessness

Every day our clients achieve amazing things against the odds. Below we share just some of their stories to highlight their experiences and how lives can be rebuilt.

Person sitting on a city street beside a red bag, highlighting street homelessness

Andy faced violence on our streets

Andy was a frontline worker during the pandemic – he saw terrible things that took a toll on his mental health. But it was when he was evicted and forced into homelessness, that he reached his breaking point.

One night, while Andy was sleeping rough, some youths threw a brick into the bushes where he was sheltering. Shocked by their casual violence, Andy felt hopeless and trapped in homelessness.

Thankfully, Andy came to APAP’s day centre where he was offered a hot meal, shower and a laundry service. But better still, our caseworkers used the Streetlink service to alert the council to the urgency of Andy’s situation. With APAP’s help, he was later housed and can now sleep safely in his own home.

Andy faced violence on our streets

One night, while Andy was sleeping rough, some youths threw a brick into the bushes where he was sheltering. Shocked by their casual violence, Andy felt hopeless and trapped in homelessness.

Andy faced violence on our streets

One night, while Andy was sleeping rough, some youths threw a brick into the bushes where he was sheltering. Shocked by their casual violence, Andy felt hopeless and trapped in homelessness.

Andy faced violence on our streets

One night, while Andy was sleeping rough, some youths threw a brick into the bushes where he was sheltering. Shocked by their casual violence, Andy felt hopeless and trapped in homelessness.

Mariam and Tesfay were seeking safety and community

Eritrean couple Mariam and Tesfay were granted refugee status and housed in Manchester. But they had no family or friends in the area.

When the couple sadly lost their baby to miscarriage, they realised just how much they were missing a support network. They decided to make a fresh start in London, where they could meet other people from the Eritrean community.

They didn’t realise that this decision would mean that they had made themselves “intentionally homeless” in the eyes of the council. That’s where APAP stepped in to help. We referred the couple to a refugee charity who arranged a homestay in South London. There, Mariam and Tesfay could feel part of a community, at last.

Mariam and Tesfay were seeking safety and community

Eritrean couple Mariam and Tesfay were granted refugee status and housed in Manchester. But they had no family or friends in the area.

Mariam and Tesfay were seeking safety and community

Eritrean couple Mariam and Tesfay were granted refugee status and housed in Manchester. But they had no family or friends in the area.

Mariam and Tesfay were seeking safety and community

Eritrean couple Mariam and Tesfay were granted refugee status and housed in Manchester. But they had no family or friends in the area.

The back of a woman on a cold street in London. She is wearing a wooly hat and fleece, carrying a backpack

Nina faced the threat of homelessness in her later years

As a pensioner with health problems, Nina should have been able to relax in her home. But instead, she faced eviction in the middle of winter.

APAP immediately got Nina on a waiting list for sheltered accommodation, but we knew it could be a long wait. So in the meantime, we supported Nina to rent a private property. This could only be a temporary solution as it was beyond Nina’s means and not accessible for her disabilities.

When Nina was finally offered a place in sheltered accommodation, she was delighted. But it came unfurnished, so we supported Nina to purchase a new oven, sofa-bed and fridge-freezer. Nina was so grateful for the fresh start, she brought our team a cake to say thank you. We hope she can finally enjoy the relaxing retirement she deserves.