Phoenix’s Story – Housing

“YMCA staff helped me achieve my goal of getting into college.”

After a family breakdown, Phoenix found herself homeless. When she had to move out of her previous housing placement, she came to YMCA’s Hillbrook House at the age of 18 in the summer of 2024. It offers safe, secure and affordable accommodation, along with services to support young homeless people.

At the time, Phoenix wasn’t in education or work. She was smoking large amounts of cannabis and wasn’t sure where her life was headed. Being neurodivergent made it hard for her to make friends, so she either spent time alone or became involved in anti-social behaviour.

During her stay at Hillbrook House, Phoenix began to attend YMCA’s Y-Focus support programme. It offers regular activity workshops covering employability, money management and life skills, as well as gym sessions, team building and mental wellbeing. Residents also visit different workplaces to explore career options and gain work experience.

The goal of Y-Focus is to support residents into further education or employment. During the programme, staff learned that Phoenix had achieved an impressive ten GCSEs.

YMCA’s Engagement Wellbeing Coordinator, Charlotte Punt, encouraged Phoenix to explore her interests. Through these conversations, Phoenix opened up about her love of the outdoors.

“I’ve always been interested in nature,” says Phoenix. “My grandad used to take me birdwatching all the time and I loved being outside.”

Charlotte identified a course at Plumpton College, which specialises in land and environment courses. “Charlotte helped me fill in the application paperwork as I didn’t know what to put,” says Phoenix, now 19. She gained a place on a two-year City & Guilds course to study environmental conservation and countryside land management. Phoenix enjoys the practical nature of the course and being out in the woods, and has successfully completed her first year.

“When I finish college, I’m hoping to get an apprenticeship to become a park ranger,” she says.

Phoenix has come a long way since first arriving at YMCA. Initially, keeping her room tidy and forming a constructive routine were a challenge. With support and encouragement from staff, she made progress and moved to one of YMCA’s semi-independent properties in Horley. These properties help residents to transition from supported accommodation to independent living.

Zoe Snelling, Housing Support Officer, says: “When Phoenix moved in, I sat down with her and helped her work out a budget. Together we looked at where she could save money, like cooking more and buying fewer takeaways. This helped her prepare for life in her own accommodation.

“It’s been great to see how Phoenix’s confidence has blossomed. Previously, she struggled to make friends, but the confidence she gained from Y-Focus helped her knock on other residents’ doors and introduce herself. She’s made really good friends here.

“She’s been determined to make a success of her college course and we were thrilled when she recently got the keys to her own place in a shared house. I’m sure she’ll go from strength to strength because she’s ready for the challenge”.