Whilst interviewing clients, they often tell me who directed them to Manna and it’s usually a good job that they were referred, when you see the impact, the Centre has on their lives.
Casey (not his real name) came to Manna as a Walk in (having no pre planned appointment). He was a little dejected. He had been discharged from hospital with a frozen shoulder caused by carrying his belongings around, he believes, as he is street homeless. Whilst at hospital he was given the telephone number for a hostel which he could book into and he wanted support to call them as he had not paid his mobile phone bill as he had no money.
He also wanted help claiming Universal Credit. When I asked, more about his situation, giving me a wry smile he explained that he was an Electrician, I gathered he was a contractor and after lockdown he worked at several venues in London’s West End. After a while, he stopped getting contracts. He smiled again, as he told me he always knew this day would come when younger graduates with more potential would be sought in preference to him. Eventually he could not afford his home and started sleeping rough.
Lack of funds was the reason why he couldn’t pay his phone bill. His mobile phone was taken out on a contractual basis and he was now in breach of this, having missed some payments and was being threatened with legal action. I offered him one of the free SIM cards which Manna had and he accepted this. He had exhausted his savings and overdraft; the Bank was writing to him regularly now because he couldn’t repay this either.
One day whilst encamped on the grassy area of a council estate, a Council Officer told him off for being there and signposted him to Manna for help. Up until that point, with no money for food, he says that he was skin and bone, but when he started attending Manna and having the Breakfasts and Lunches, he began putting weight on. Apart from the discomfort with his shoulder, he looked well and of a healthy size to me- Well done Manna!
Casey’s second request was to apply for Universal Credit. It was since he had started coming to Manna that he learned that it was possible to apply for Universal Credit as a homeless person. Had he known he would have applied earlier. I supported him to make the application. I offered him some shopping vouchers as he had no money and was talking about borrowing from family who weren’t aware of his predicament. He declined, adding that the food he gets from Manna is enough and I should save the vouchers for those who really needed them, he said he had learned he was much better off than some people who came to the centre. He left the office armed with some phone credit to call and organise a place to stay and relief at the knowledge that his Universal Credit application was in process, “That would have taken so much longer without you” he said as he left. He had only been coming to the centre for a few weeks but the interactions had been improved the quality of his life.