Nathan’s Story

Nathan’s story shows what a difference a Home Starter Pack can make. He had been navigating insecure housing for some time, relying on B&B accommodation and Universal Credit to get by. After an argument with his B&B landlord, he was left with nowhere to go, and he spent a night on the street.

He was taken to the hospital by police that night and later assessed by a mental health nurse. It was a frightening low point, but also the start of a beginning for Nathan.

With support from his key worker, Nathan was able to access benefits, stabilise his finances, and secure a home of his own. He moved into his flat in August and has been building his life there ever since.

The Difference a Starter Pack Made

When Nathan moved in, he had virtually nothing. He had started from scratch multiple times before, but this time, for the first time, he received a Home Starter Pack from Homeless Connect.

The pack included everyday essentials: dinner plates, glasses, bed sheets, a toaster, and basic food items. Things that most people take for granted, but which make an enormous practical difference when you are setting up a home with nothing.

Nathan had been staying in a mental health unit while his flat was being prepared. The starter pack meant that from the moment he arrived, he had what he needed to cook a meal, sit down to eat, and begin to feel at home.

Feeling Settled

Nathan describes the starter pack simply: “a godsend.” Having those practical items from day one helped him feel settled and gave him a foundation to build on. Eight months on, he is still in his flat, cooking his own meals, adding bits and pieces as he goes, and making it his own.

“This is the third, maybe fourth time I’ve had to start from nothing. This is the first time I’ve ever had a starter pack.”

For those who have never experienced homelessness, it can be easy to underestimate what it means to have a plate to eat from or a sheet for your bed when you are starting with nothing. For Nathan, those items represented something more than practicality. They represented a real and dignified fresh start.

If you’d like more information on how to access Home Starter Packs, please get in touch at starterpacks@homelessconnect.org.