Our residents moving on to independent living is one of the most rewarding moments for the team here at Jimmy’s. We sat down with previous Jimmy’s resident Eamonn recently so he could share his story.
Before Eamonn came into contact with Jimmy’s he said it would describe his life in three words:
“Useless. Scared. Not wanting to do anything.”
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Following the death of his partner from cancer, he found himself spiralling deeper into despair, living with a £500-a-day crack habit and on the brink of losing everything – his health, his safety, and his family. It wasn’t until he reached his lowest point that he found the courage to walk into Jimmy’s.
Like so many others, Eamonn didn’t come to Jimmy’s because he wanted to. He came because he had no choice.
“I was homeless, living on the streets and struggling with addiction. I was scared for my own safety.”
But that moment of vulnerability led to something life-changing. Through the support of Jimmy’s Housing Support Team, and in particular, Matt Wiseman, Eamonn started the journey to rebuild his life.
Matt didn’t just help Eamonn with finding a place to stay; he gave him emotional support, stability, and most importantly, the belief that things could get better.
For the past ten years, Jimmy’s Support Worker Matt has been by Eamonn’s side, helping him overcome addiction, find stable housing, and reconnecting with his children. Eamonn is now in touch with his kids – and his grand child! – and looking forward to the future, knowing that he is no longer defined by his past.
Today, Eamonn has a job as the coordinator for the Big Issue in Cambridge, helping others who are experiencing homelessness and poverty. He has his own flat, a place to call home, and hopes for the future.
None of this would have been possible without the support of Jimmy’s.
Jimmy’s is a lifeline for people like Eamonn, providing 24/7 support, shelter, and care for those who need it most. But we can only provide this life changing support because of people like you.
We want to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU, on behalf of all the Jimmy’s team and people like Eamonn.
But, whilst these stories are brilliant, we know only too well that there are countless other individuals who are experiencing homelessness and need our help.
Earlier this year Cambridge Council** shared some worrying facts about rough sleeping.
- Homelessness has always been an issue for Cambridge, but the problem is worsening and is expected to continue to do so, in November 2023 at the annual street outreach count, 23 individuals were counted as sleeping rough which is an increase since 2022.
- The growing pressures are due to a combination of factors, particularly the cost of living crisis and the growing shortage of private sector accommodation
Jimmy’s always has a waiting list for our services but this reaches its peak during the Winter months.
Will you help make a difference?
There are a number of ways you can help people experiencing homelessness this Winter.
- Donate here today so that Jimmy’s has funds to support those who would otherwise be sleeping rough this Winter.
- Start a collection. Download our Wishlist here and collect important items to keep our residents going this Winter.
- Volunteer your time: help cook or serve a meal, collect generously donated items or help to keep our stores stocked up and tidy.
If you have any questions about Jimmy’s or the ways in which you can help please contact us.
Thank you for all your kindness, help and support.