Meet Joel

Joel joined Restore in November 2024 and lived in one of our shared houses for about a year. When he was eighteen he got kicked out of his family home, and spent the next ten years sofa surfing. He never found himself rough sleeping, but nor did he ever have a permanent base to call home. Eventually, he reached the point where he wanted more stability, so he self-referred as homeless to the council. Initially he was interviewed for a place in a council-run hostel, but a decision was taken that he wasn’t a suitable candidate for hostel living, so he was referred for supported accommodation instead. A few days after he was given this news, Joel received a phone call from Paddy and was offered a room at Restore.

When he first moved in, Joel tried to keep himself to himself, but eventually he started coming to social outings and attending the community hubs. He found the hubs to be a good experience, providing a structure to his week and the opportunity to socialise with other residents. He feels like he has gained valuable life skills through Restore, and he has become more self-confident, motivated and sociable. He’s been in a flat of his own for around six months now and he loves having peace and quiet, although he didn’t enjoy decorating! Even though his official period of follow-on support from Restore has ended, he intends to continue to come along to the hubs and peer support groups (which we encourage all former residents to do) because he values the network they provide and the opportunity to catch up with his friends and former housemates.

He hopes to continue using the life skills and practical  lessons he’s gained from his time at Restore to keep managing his tenancy on his new place. He also has plans to learn to drive and find work, which will give him even more stability. He’s grateful for the way Restore has supported him, so that he can live the life he now has.