Steve’s story: from complete loss to hope for the future

June 22nd 2025 was the day I lost my home.

Bailiffs were coming at 2pm, and my flat was an absolute disaster zone. It reflected me, really. The environment I had created was me. I was an alcoholic and had been binge drinking for about a year.  

I used to steal alcohol from my partner’s house and money from her daughter to fuel my disease. I drank aftershave just to get a hit, stole from local shops and ended up banned. I didn’t care about the damage I was doing to myself. At one point, I even thought about selling my passport to get money for alcohol. 

I lost my flat, my relationship, parts of my family and virtually all of my friends. 

After working for 20 years as a mental health support worker, my alcohol dependency also resulted in the loss of my job. Looking back, I find that quite ironic. I was supporting people who were behaving the same way I was, but I couldn’t recognise it in myself. I couldn’t control the destruction happening in my mind.  

After the bailiffs came, I had to make a decision. I could either sleep on the street, wild camp on Dartmoor or present myself to the local council as homeless. I had three piles of belongings – one for each decision - but ultimately decided to contact the council.  

As part of the homelessness process, I had a one-hour assessment with the council and I have never felt so vulnerable. It is shattering to tell your life story with raw honesty to a stranger.  

I was moved into a Travelodge, taking a small clutch of clothes and just six possessions with me. During this time, I received a call from Brian from BCHA, urging me to attend an assessment to see how I could be supported. When I received the call, I felt like the rug was being pulled from underneath me. I felt cocooned in my new environment, safe and secure, and Brian was a complete stranger to me.  

My father had passed away, and although that acted as a trigger, I knew deep down I was going to relapse eventually anyway.

Brian witnessed my relapse. On Christmas Day of 2025, Brian and another member of the team had the difficult conversation that they might walk in and find me dead. I was losing control of my bodily functions. I wasn’t showering, washing or caring for myself and I was malnourished.  

That was when the decision was made to move me to the Recovery House. 

The Recovery House gave me security, time, support and the right environment to begin recovering. This is when a switch flipped in me. Brian is a master at knowing what to suggest and when. He encouraged me to go back to the gym, and I’ve now put on around half a stone of muscle.  

The gym has become a healthy coping mechanism for me. The environment is accepting - everyone is focused on themselves and at different stages of their own journey. It also gives me space to process my thoughts, or sometimes not think about them at all.. 

There are two people who have been instrumental in getting me to where I am now. The first is Brian. He gave me this environment and support, which in turn helped me begin repairing fractured relationships in my life.  

The second is my partner. We have an appointment scheduled together soon. We were together for over three years and she tried everything she could to help me. 

Looking to the future 

I’m still unsure what direction I’m going to take in the future. I previously worked as a tree surgeon, before my career in mental health, which I may return to.  I’m also looking into combining my love of the gym with healing by training in physiotherapy.  

I also have an interest in working in addiction and recovery Support within mental health service. 

I’m leaving the three doors open for my future. The fact I have any aspiration is such a huge turnaround from where I was just three months ago. I’m attending a 10-day silent retreat and I’m looking forward to seeing how it helps with my mindset and recovery journey.  

Recovery is ongoing: Complacency can set in and addiction tries to trick you whenever it can, so you need to work at it. But I know I can continue on the journey.  

I couldn’t have done it without Brian and BCHA and for that I am incredibly grateful.