"I had real problems accepting myself as homeless, it is a condition that cannot really be diagnosed, measured, or even stated subjectively and it was only when I became officially homeless, or the council told me I was homeless was when I began to realise what homelessness was about.

I have been homeless about twenty years but only about a year ago when the rats came in and I moved out would I have called myself homeless. Before that I didn't think about home at all and as I associated it often with mental and emotional problems it was not a place I wanted to revisit and preferred to think I was better off where I was at that moment.

Life was a struggle but in that struggle I could forget the rut that homelessness had become for me and of course a lot of people had been kind which helps things along.

Before coming to Doorway I had approached agencies but had been confused and deterred by the categories and priorities of homelessness, though I do accept that different people are in more urgent need than others.

The rats were appalling. I rarely slept more than a couple of hours at night because of the furtive scampering over my head even in my bed I got eating disorders because uneaten food was their main attraction . I lost my job because sleepless nights meant I kept falling asleep at work. I was cleaning at a local comprehensive school and was woken up by a concerned teacher who found me sprawled unconscious on the classroom floor.

My nerves were shattered . I had left with a quilt over my head and I slept for a few weeks on the back seat of an abandoned bus.

It was around that time that I told doorway about some of the problems I was experiencing and I am grateful for their quickness in getting things moving for me and their patience in helping me fill out forms and sensible advice, getting me interviews, appointments and visits with the NWDC and Westlea Housing Association. As well as practical assistance the kindness, sympathy and support of volunteers and guests kept me motivated enough to stay here long enough for me to be offered a suitable property in the local area.

Which is where I am now, from a position where I had nearly given up all hope to a place where I can begin to look forward to a brighter future. I am very grateful for the help I recieved at doorway and wish everybody there more success in the way of helping others like me"

Julian - February 5th 2007

Art Workshops at Doorway

"I attended a weekly arts workshop at Doorway at the end of 2006 and found the experience very rewarding.

I had just been housed in Corsham and after living in an isolated field mostly for a number of years was wondering how Id manage living on an estate in town I didnt know.

The workshop really helped by providing a welcoming friendly environment where I could have some time to myself and after a few sessions found my weekday worries falling from me as I walked through the door.

Geoff and the volunteers were really good providing focus when it was needed but also allowing time to expand and explore other areas of interest and creativity (as well as having a laugh occasionally) and it was good to look at all the different approaches that other members of the group using paint and papier mache which itself I found quite rewarding as it requires some patience in its early stages but also is quite responsive to more spontaneous a treatment.

I was pleased with what I made at the end and felt I had learnt a lot by attending the sessions."

Julian - March 2007