To mark World Homeless Day on October 10, the Reading Chronicle, in conjunction with Launchpad, are bringing you stories each day from those whose lives in the town have been touched by homelessness.

SOPHIE* is in her early 20s. She and her two young children (five and seven) moved in with her mum to care for her - she was dying of cancer.

When her mum died, Sophie was evicted. Due to a lack of suitable housing, she ended up living in a B&B. Emergency B&B accommodation should be short term. Sophie and her children ended up there for two years.

In the face of adversity, Sophie was bringing up her children brilliantly. The three of them lived in one room, with no bath, cooker or garden.

Sophie was referred to Launchpad’s Floating Support Service (the national name for a service that helps prevent homelessness) and Carrie, her Launchpad Support Worker, worked really hard to find the family suitable accommodation.

Hours were spent at Reading Borough Council, visiting potential properties, searching online and building relationships with landlords.

Eventually Carrie and the family visited a two bedroom flat with a garden. The landlord was so impressed with Sophie’s well behaved children that they were offered the tenancy.

Carrie’s hard work didn’t stop there. She found funding for a washing machine and fridge for the home. For nearly a month the family only had two mattresses. Sophie and her young son took turns, spending one night on the sofa and one night on their mattress.

The family are still doing well, feeling settled in their home and very grateful to Carrie and Launchpad for all the help.

Launchpad’s preventing homelessness service

Floating Support is the national name for a service that prevents homelessness by helping people with a range of challenges. The service can be for anyone, including single parents, families, couples and single people. We help people find somewhere suitable to live.

Those stuck in emergency B&B accommodation get help searching for long-term accommodation. We work to keep people in their home, by working with other local housing providers and landlords to avoid evictions. We help with benefits, budgeting and debt advice too.

We support over 200 people with the Launchpad Floating Support service, for between three and six months each.

Our Floating Support aims to helping people settle down and achieve stability, to gain the skills, confidence and understanding to break out of difficult situations.

This help is available via a referral by Reading Borough Council or a probation or social worker. If you think you need this service, come to our Drop-in and we can help you to get referred.

Just one day

The work Launchpad do in the town is vital.

Help Launchpad prevent homelessness in Reading and get involved this World Homeless Day Monday 10 October… it’s just one day.

Can you support Launchpad this World Homeless Day, individually or with your school, community group or business?

Here are a few ideas:

  • Give up your lunch money: Have a basic lunch or no lunch. And donate the usual lunch money to Launchpad, just for one day.
  • #FirstFiver: Why not do something good with the first new plastic £5 note you receive and donate it to Launchpad.
  • When I grow up….dress up day: Ask everyone to come in dressed as the person or profession they want to or wanted to be when they were little. Charge your astronauts, football stars and vets for the privilege of living their dream. Nobody grows up wanting to become homeless.
  • Bake a house Organise a baking competition: Cook up a tasty gingerbread house that can be sampled for a donation, helping to get people to stop and think about why everyone needs a safe place to call home.
  • Socks in a box: Organise a collection of essential items to help the homeless and vulnerable: Ask everyone to put a (pair of) socks in a box for distribution at the Reading Severe Weather Emergency Project.
  • Say yes we ‘can’: Invite your friends to donate a can or packet of non-perishable food or top up the Launchpad toiletry cupboard with a toothbrush and shower gel amnesty. A collection of items makes people pause to consider life without such necessities.
  • Text donate on the day: LWHD16 £10 to 70070 to donate to Launchpad Reading and make a difference on World Homeless Day.

Launchpad is a charity that helps some of Reading’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged people to turn their lives around and fulfil their potential.

They began by running a soup kitchen 35 years ago and were known as Reading Single Homeless Project until 2011. Today, they’re called Launchpad Reading.

Based in bright premises right in central Reading, they work to provide accommodation, support, education and counselling to people in the town who need their help.

To find out more, log onto: www.launchpadreading.org.uk/