Derek's story
Derek is in his 40s and was referred to Homelink by his hostel.
I'm a recovering alcoholic, an addict, and I was in a hostel before I found my flat through Homelink. I've been sober two years now, I'm just trying to live a normal life.
Becoming homeless, it's a load of things really. Drink and drug addiction, not paying my rent, not paying bills. Then the bailiffs start knocking on your door, so what do you do? You just bury your head in the sand, drink and take more drugs. It just stripped you of everything.
I was homeless for about three years, but most of that I was in prison anyway. It was prison, on the road, prison, on the road, prison. I become used to going to prison. When the judge said, "I'm gonna give you six month custodial", I used to think, "can you give me some more, cos it's Christmas soon, and it's gonna be cold".
Being able to choose my flat with Homelink, it gives you a bit of responsibility. I felt I was being treated like an adult. I'd like to go back to work eventually. I'm thinking about doing a counselling course next year. I think I'd be good at that, helping others. It's not a nice place where I've been. I've come through the other end. Through my pain I can help someone else stop going there, or not go where I've been.
