Angela’s empathy for people facing instability and fear pushed her to apply for the role of an HSO (Housing Settlement Officer). Her first-hand experience of homelessness and addiction has gifted her with the insight needed to truly connect with people facing these issues. Angela wants to be the person she needed earlier in life. As an HSO, Angela’s story gives individuals hope that if change was possible for her, it could be possible for them too.
So far, HSOs have assisted 400 individuals experiencing homelessness over 15 weeks. HSOs support people stuck in unsuitable forms of accommodation to find settled housing, and assist those who are rough sleeping to find a safe space to stay. They travel across the city to work with people in the community, and hold housing advice surgeries on Mondays and Wednesdays between 2-4pm and Fridays 11-1pm at our Crimea Street base.
HSOs support people like Arash*. Arash fled his country and was granted asylum in the UK. Soon after, he was asked to leave Home Office accommodation, making him homeless with no indication of what his next best step should be. This led Arash to the HSO’s housing advice surgery to ask for help.
At the surgery, Arash found support to register for accommodation, apply for benefits and link up with the local job centre. The more time Arash spent at the Mission, the more he connected with other individuals who had come for housing advice. He could relate to these people, which suddenly made him feel less alone. This encouraged him to come along to our free Drop-in meals every weekday lunch and dinner as well as our Urban project, which offers employability and education workshops as well as art and pottery sessions. Over time, Arash’s initial connections have slowly built into a community of guests, volunteers and staff who he can now call friends.
Arash and Angela also got to know each other. This helped Angela point Arash towards local areas and activities in Glasgow that matched his interests and would help him to flourish. They visited these points of interests together, exploring an area that Arash was hoping to move to.
Over the day they spent together, Arash and Angela visited the area’s local food bank and met some of the volunteers, inspiring Arash with an opportunity that he could one day become involved in. Arash and Angela also visited the dentists, doctors and a local community centre which hosted multicultural events that resonated with Arash. He was also introduced to staff in the chemists, supermarkets and most importantly, the local chippie!
Through building relationships with individuals like Arash and introducing them to their local area, HSOs help people to get to know their city, maintain their tenancy once they move in, settle into their community and plan for their future.
