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We first met Emma* at P3’s Safe Spaces service in Cheltenham. She spoke with us about what life had been like since moving into emergency accommodation, the events that led to her being made homeless and her experience of living in a hostel as a transgender woman.
Describing her experience, Emma explained, “This has been a new experience for me. I’ve never lived in a place like this before and, only being here four weeks, it still feels new. But I feel quite lucky. Before here I was homeless under a bridge: no tent, just a sleeping bag, pillow, bike and rucksack. I was down to nothing.
“Three months earlier, I was living in private accommodation, I had my own car and was in full-time work. I was in a good position.”
Emma’s story highlights how quickly someone’s circumstances can change. As Emma put it, “It was a series of events, really. Losing my car meant I lost my job, and then everything else. Not being able to drive to work was a real issue for me. I’ve been a lorry driver and forklift driver my whole life. I’ve always worked fulltime.”
Emma went on to explain how her identity as a transgender woman has had a lasting impact on her experiences of work and stability. She said, “Fifteen years ago, I had a sex change. The ruling against transgender people by the Supreme Court has caused a knock-on effect, which I believe is why I’m here today.
“It has become an ongoing problem for me. I feel that once people know I’m trans, their attitudes towards me change. I go to the HR [department of whatever job I’m in at the time], but I feel like they don’t do anything about it.”
Emma feels that prejudice linked to her identity has been the precursor to many of the barriers she’s faced. With that in mind, her support plan has been built around her individual needs and the negative experiences she’s faced as a result of her identity, which has allowed the team at P3 to help her rebuild confidence, address challenges around employment and feel safe in temporary accommodation.
One of the most difficult moments in Emma’s experience of homelessness was losing her identification documents. She tells us:
“When my car was taken away, it had all my paperwork inside: my ID and 20-years’ worth of transition documents. Not only am I left with nothing, but I also wasn’t told anything so I couldn’t get my stuff.”
P3’s Safe Spaces service provides emergency accommodation for up to 12 weeks. For many people, it offers a vital first step towards a permanent home. During this time, the team works alongside people to create tailored support plans that address their individual needs. In Emma’s case, this has included helping her begin the process of replacing essential documents.
Reflecting on how she first connected with P3, Emma says, “This place” meaning P3’s Gloucestershire Safe Spaces, “was absolutely excellent in the procedure they did, where I was under that bridge and was regularly checked in on. They opened up services to me and housed me here.”
Before arriving at Safe Spaces, Emma describes her time sleeping rough as the hardest experience of her life.
Sleeping under that bridge was the most awful time of my life. It’s not like when you’re young and camp out with your friends and then go home to the warm; it’s living like this without having a choice – it is a complete outlook change.
Emma also spoke about the additional pressures she faced as a transgender woman while sleeping rough: “Plus with my medical side, I really need to keep clean so that was really stressful. Just like immediately after the operation, my skin was bruised and turning black, I think mainly from sleeping on the cold ground.”
Now settled into P3’s Safe Spaces, Emma says she is incredibly grateful for the support she has received from the local P3 team. She reflects, “This place has been the only place that has really tried to help me. I spent my first week here initially trying to settle into my new surroundings. They give you that time before starting any [intensive] support.
“All the staff here are nice and wonderful; they have a lot on their plate to help people in need and deal with a range of diverse problems. Even in my short stay here, I’ve seen eight people move on [to more long-term accommodation].
“It’s not just about the comfy bed and the accommodation: it’s the outside-world stuff they can give you. Like access to the foodbank, to health services – they see the bigger picture.”
Emma’s experience reflects the approach taken by P3 teams across the country. Through partnership working and person-centred support, P3 focuses not only on providing accommodation, but also on addressing the underlying challenges that can lead to housing instability. By working alongside local services and community partners, our aim is to help people access the wider support they need, whether that’s help with mental health, budgeting, employment or independent living skills.
*Please note a stock image has been used to protect anonymity.
Every day, P3 teams support people to move from crisis towards stability with dignity, respect and hope. Services like P3’s Safe Spaces provide more than a roof over someone’s head: they offer the time, guidance and practical support people need to rebuild their lives.
Each year, P3 works alongside more than 81,000 people across 57 local authorities, helping individuals find housing, reconnect with support networks and realise their potential so they can unlock new possibilities for the future. If you’d like to learn more about how P3 is supporting people experiencing homelessness or how you can help make a difference, click on the buttons below.
