I was four months pregnant when I came to NOVAS looking for help. Both my partner and I were homeless, living in a caravan in Southill. Everyone had given up on us because I wasn’t attending school and I wasn’t doing what the professionals asked of me. We weren’t safe in the caravan, there was no running water and a horse shared the garden with us. We were looking for a place of our own, without success. No landlord would take us because we were going looking at the apartments, having had no sleep or no shower.

When we presented to the IFS, they moved us to a B&B straight away. We then moved to McGarry house, but that wasn’t very suitable to our needs either. From there our keyworker helped us get a flat. She continues to help us now, with money management and payment of bills and rent. She helps us keep a roof over our child’s head. If we are ever short something, or need something, we’d come straight to NOVAS. They are so welcoming. There is nothing we’ve asked of them that they haven’t done.
(Testimonial from couple who are successfully housed with their baby for the last 6 months. The IFS continue to work with them around tenancy sustainment).