Mai’s story
"Something I have learned over the years is how important it is to be kind to everyone; we all have our own situation."
Before I became homeless, I was living in a two-bedroom flat in Newham. It was small but it was mine, and I made it a home for myself. I was working full-time, and the rest of my time was spent doing activism work for the issues I care about. I am a survivor of FGM, and fighting for justice for myself and others in my community who have experienced it is a huge part of who I am.
Due to health problems, I had to reduce my hours, and I couldn’t afford my rent anymore. I was made homeless and stayed with a friend for a while, but there were lots of little problems, and I couldn’t stay there very long. I got in touch with my local MP, who was really supportive. He acknowledged that the housing issue wasn’t easy, but they’d try their best. I was staying in the library during the day, then rode the bus from Newham into central London to stay warm at night.
When I arrived at Your Place, there was a real feeling of family. My keyworker told me that everything would be okay, and was always checking in on me. She knew about my medical situation and my prescription, and she was really supportive. I now have specialist care from the hospital, as it’s something that a lot of people don’t understand. Something I have learned over the years is how important it is to be kind to everyone; we all have our own situation.
From then, I saw Your Place as a family, and I put everything in God’s hands. Where the loneliness was making me ill before, the friendliness was there at Your Place.
A former partner left me with some debt, which has made getting my own place again even more difficult. Landlords don’t trust you if you have debt, but at Your Place I was given advice with how to manage my income, and now I’ve moved into one of the new resettlement flats, and I’ll have a chance to save some money to put aside for a deposit in the future.
Now I have this flat, the extra space has given me some more dignity. The area is nice and quiet, no noise, so I also have the time to think and relax, when I’m not working.
When I look into the future, I still see myself campaigning around FGM and women’s issues; I really want to be able to tell my story and help other people. Before I got ill, I was in college studying childcare, and I’d like to do the next level once I’m settled in my new place. I love cooking for people, and now I can have guests round and cook for them, but I also want to give back and cook food for people who need it.
I truly never thought I would be homeless, but it can happen to anyone. The kindness that I’ve experienced at Your Place is something I want to keep giving back. Newham has been my home for so long, and I’m looking forward to helping my community the same way I’ve been helped by Your Place.
