Part of the tenant journey is moving on and recently we said good bye to two of our families in Peterborough.
One of the families was a single mum and her young daughter. When she came to us she was fleeing an abusive marriage and was suffering with mental health issues due to having lived in a coercive controlled relationship and it took time for her to recover and rebuild her life but recover and rebuild she did! She attended the “Freedom” programme that is a programme provided for those who have been in abusive relationship aimed at giving them tools to recognise the early signs of abuse and coercive control; she attended a parenting course learning valuable strategies for caring for her child. She volunteered with us and took business courses so that she was "work ready" securing a job shortly after. All in the time that she was living in one of our homes. We gave her a secure home, a place to find her feet or wings (!)and fly. It was a very different woman that I picked up keys from, to the one we had given keys to when she first came to us!
The second family was a Syrian refugee family who having come from a very troubled area found sanctuary in one of our homes. There was a lot of support around them and with this support they made new lives for themselves. The father found work, the mother was involved in the community and each of the children settled well in school and thrived. It was impossible to go and visit and not be offered refreshments (Pre-covid). Although the father’s English was broken English, his daughter would interpret and there is the universal communication of the warmth of a smile. I was directly involved in the move but I wanted to say goodbye and wish them well so I went for a farewell visit. The father was full of thanks, giving me their new address and inviting me to visit them at their new address. He showed me the garden which he had tended during lockdown, when he was furloughed from his job. He had grown tomatoes and other vegetables. He pointed at a plant, “Runner beans” I said; “You like these?” he said. “Yes” I said. The next thing I knew he was picking them for me, insisting that I take them. With smiles and waving hands we said farewell and as I drove off I reflected on what being in a secure home had meant for this family.
There is a scripture in Isaiah 32:18 that says:
“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” I like to think of our houses in this way and that in these peaceful dwelling places, places of undisturbed rest our tenants are able to rebuild their lives. I believe that has happened for these two families.
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