When Hastoe’s Development team recently took handover of four 2-bedroom homes at The Grange in Finchingfield, Essex, our Housing team were able to help turn around the fortunes of local man Mark (not his real name), who had been homeless for a number of years.
Find out more about Mark’s story and why his new home means the world to him.
“I’ve had a very hard life, very traumatic, with lots of torment,” explains Mark, who over the years has lived through the breakdown of relationships that he describes as “very abusive”, lost his own business and seen his health suffer as a result.
For the last few years – and not for the first time in his life – Mark has been homeless, splitting his time between various hostels, sofa surfing and living in his vehicle, often paying a local hotel £1 so he could stay in their car park for security. “I have lived in and lost many homes over the years,” he says. “I was even forced to shut down my business, which I tried really hard to keep going, even during the times when I have been homeless.
“In fact through everything, I have tried really hard to keep going,” says Mark. “I have never done any drugs or alcohol and I have kept in regular conversations with the council about finding a home.”
Mark had been let down by other housing providers, so describes taking the initial call about the Finchingfield home from Hastoe’s Housing Officer, Emily, as “a million-dollar feeling”. “I was having trouble hearing back from other housing providers,” he says. “When Emily rang, she explained that the property was not quite finished, but that she would come back to me. She was true to her word, and we went to view the house, which was fantastic.”
Of the 4 new homes in Finchingfield, 2 had been earmarked for affordable rent and the other 2 for shared ownership. Emily, who was approaching possible tenants about the 2 homes that had been set aside for affordable rent, says: “Mark had been previously let down by other housing providers who never called him back, so when I first contacted him about the property a couple of months ago, he was hesitant and really questioned me. I kept him updated about the house throughout the process and fast forward to August, we were able to formally sign Mark up for this beautiful forever home.”
Mark’s situation has also been hard on his wider family. His children, now in their 30s and 40s, have supported him whenever they could throughout his periods of homelessness.
Mark says: “I have tried to hide my homelessness from my grandchildren and even to a certain extent from my children – other than my eldest daughter, who has been with me through thick and thin.”
His eldest daughter, who lives just 20 minutes away from his new home, couldn’t be happier for Mark. He says: “When I brought my daughter here she was ecstatic; she said it’s like I’ve won the lottery. She really wants me to enjoy this home and to get my life back on track.”
Mark feels the same, saying he is looking forward to “having an easy life and a lovely home to do it in”. “Over the last few years I have been to the doctors regularly as my health has suffered, but they couldn’t really do anything about it until I had a home; so now I do have a stable home, I can get my health problems sorted,” he says.
“This house really is a godsend; it means more to me than anything in the world,” he adds. “I pray every night to God and he has listened to me. But it still hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Mark describes the house as “very tranquil”, listing the quietness, the great location and the driveway as some of his favourite things about the property, although he says everything is “exceptional” and he is looking forward to caring for the home as he makes it his own.
Emily adds: “Mark’s family are thrilled for him and now we are assisting him with financial advice and help from local charities to furnish his new house. I am delighted we have been able to help him find the home he deserves.”
Mark in turn has nothing but praise for Emily, describing her as “absolutely fantastic”. “She’s always on top of the work and never too busy to help me out. She’s got a real passion for helping people and she’s so easy to relate to. When she handed me the keys to my new home, it was a lovely moment.
He adds: “I really just want to say thank you to everyone at Hastoe for giving me a chance in life again.”
