BCHA Plymouth Temporary Accommodation’s longest occupying resident is looking forward to spending Christmas in his own place, after being helped to find a permanent home.
Ryan Snowdon, who is 32 and autistic, has secured a one-bed housing association flat in Prince Rock with the help of his BCHA Complex Needs Outreach Support Worker Ali Barrios.
Ryan has been in care since the age of five and had been living at BCHA’s 17 Hamilton Gardens for just over two years, after being evicted from a supported living service when he inadvertently fell into service charge arrears. He then spent over a year in B&B accommodation.
He said: “It’s amazing to finally have my own place and feel independent.
“I have enjoyed being with BCHA and I am grateful for their help, they are amazing people. But I had started to think I would never find a place. Like there was no hope.
“I have ADHD and a mild learning disability and have been going round and around in the housing system, watching everyone come and go and move on, and I had started to feel really stuck.
“Then my new support worker Ali started to help me, got me put on to the right housing band and one day he phoned and said Devon Housing Choice had offered me a one bed place. I was over the moon.”
Ryan was placed into care at the age of five and fostered by a family from Devon from the age of 10-17.
He continued: “My new place needs work. but I am getting everything sorted. My foster dad Brian has taught me a lot over the years and made me the man I am today.
“I have plans to decorate and do some plastering and make the place nice and I am looking forward to inviting my foster parents and siblings over as soon as possible to see it.
“I went into temporary accommodation at Christmas 2021, but this Christmas will be very different!”
Ali Barrios, Ryan’s Complex Needs Outreach Support Worker said: “It’s fantastic to see Ryan making plans for his future at last.
“He came to us when he was going through a very stressful time, including almost a year in B&B accommodation, but he has come a long way in the last two years.
“I feel honoured to have helped him find a home and as is the case with all our clients, we will be continuing to support him so he can develop skills, confidently sustain independent living and ultimately continue his route to a better life.”
The BCHA Plymouth Temporary Accommodation and Outreach Service can help single people or couples who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness to access 43 temporary accommodation units across seven locations in the city.
A well as providing temporary accommodation, the team can offer wide ranging support, including daily welfare checks, individual support for dependence on alcohol and drugs, referrals to other agencies and help to find suitable long-term accommodation.
For more details, read how BCHA supports people experiencing homelessness.
Media information on this release from: Communications@bcha.org.uk
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