My name is Nathan ...

I became homeless when my partner that I’d lived with for eight years passed away. After that my life went downhill.

My partner had taken care of the bills and things and I wasn’t able to do that myself. I did try, but mucked things up a bit. It worked for a while, but going back to an empty flat I got stuck in a rut and thought to myself ‘don’t you feel like packing your bags and starting somewhere else?’

I’d read a survey in a newspaper asking people ‘what do you most regret in your life?’ The highest response was ‘I didn’t do this or that and now it’s too late’.

I spoke with my grandmother and told her how I was feeling. She said ‘start at the bottom and work your way up’. So I packed in my job, packed my stuff and came to Cardiff. I used to visit Cardiff two or three times a year and fell in love with the City.

When I first came to Cardiff I initially stayed at the Huggard Centre, but unfortunately they were only able to offer me floor space. After two weeks a support worker contacted the YMCA and I was offered the use of the YMCA Emergency Bed for one night. Before I left I made a self-referral by completing an application form, then returned to the Huggard and was offered floor space again. The following weekend the YMCA offered me the use of their Emergency Bed and on the Monday I received the news that there was a vacancy at the YMCA. I was interviewed by a Housing Officer and offered accommodation at the main hostel. I stayed there for two months, and was then given a studio flat in the YMCAs supported housing project in Oakfield Street. I stayed in the studio flat for six months and during that time my support worker helped me sort out my benefits and put me on the Council waiting list.

In April this year, the YMCA PRS Project found me my own independent flat with a private landlord. Every time I’d tried to plan things myself it would go wrong. It was nice having someone who could help me change it. My flat is near the City centre and a five minute walk from the hostel, so I can keep in touch with staff if I need any advice. My plans for the future are to settle in my new flat, and take up voluntary work and I now feel my life will have a positive outcome.