Dave & Marie's Story

Dave and Marie have been together for three years. They are both long-term homeless street drinkers and for most of the past three years they have been living in separate accommodation, both in hostels.

They would meet in the morning and spend the day on the streets, drinking wine and spirits. Both have been arrested for public order offences in this time and both have been living chaotic existences.

Marie moved into our supported accommodation project, Sundial House, when it opened in September 2008 and in November 2009 Dave was offered a place in Sundial House.

Although initially they were accommodated separately, they now share a room and are taking better care of themselves and each other than ever before. There were concerns that if they were sharing accommodation they might become even more chaotic but the opposite has been the case.

Now they are able to spend the day together without being on the street and Dave and Marie both have reduced their alcohol consumption. They look healthier and are eating better. They take part in project activities, like art, gardening and residents meetings. What’s more, they both seem happy together. They can be seen in the project and on the street holding hands and laughing together, just like two teenagers in love.

Not bad for a couple entering their sixties and with twenty years of homelessness behind them!

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