‘Without the Gateway, I wouldn’t be here now’ – we mark Starts at Home Day

‘Without the Gateway, I wouldn’t be here now’ – we mark Starts at Home Day

Today is Starts at Home Day, which is a chance for housing associations across the country to celebrate the positive impact of supported housing.

We see that impact every single day as supported housing provides a safe and secure place for people who may otherwise be at risk of homelessness, giving them the chance to rebuild their lives.

Dean is one of our customers who benefitted from our supported housing at Gateway in Coventry. After separating from his wife of 35 years, he found himself with nowhere to live. For a short time, he was sleeping rough in Coventry city centre, not knowing what to do next. That changed when he was introduced to The Gateway, and the support provided by our colleagues.

He said: “I’ve been at The Gateway nearly two years, and I couldn’t wish for a better place. Honestly, it’s made my life a lot better. The staff make you feel welcome, and they’ve supported me with everything I needed.”

During his time there, he learned new skills such as managing bills and saving money, things he’d never had to do before. With that support, he’s now moved into a home of his own.

He added: “I got the keys to a bungalow a few months ago and I’m well chuffed. If it wasn’t for The Gateway, I don’t think I’d be here today.”

Watch our video of Dean here:

Our Director of Housing, Care and Support Peter Gill said: “Stories like this show exactly why supported housing is so important. The Gateway provides more than just a roof over someone’s head – it’s a place where people can feel safe, regain their independence, and start looking forward to the future again.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work our colleagues do every day to make this possible. The dedication and care shown by the team at The Gateway, and across all our supported housing schemes, changes lives.

“On Starts at Home Day, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who works in supported housing at Citizen. Your efforts make an enormous difference, and today is the perfect reminder of that.”

Find out more about Starts at Home here. https://startsathome.org.uk/

For media enquiries contact our Communications Team.