The first new starter homes for young people at Trinity Court in Birmingham were opened earlier this month at by Iain Wright MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. For more information use the links below.
The following is from an interview with Mohammed Al Abdali tenant at Trinity Court, part of a feature 'Independence Days' written by Anita Pati, published in Inside Housing 17th October 2008.
No Longer Overlooked
Mohammed (pictured right) in his early 20’s, moved into Trinity Court around a fortnight ago, ahead of the official launch. ‘It’s a struggle trying to find the furniture,’ he says. ‘But it’s a really good feeling to have your own place - I couldn’t have asked for more.’
He is an example of the intermediate group of young people that St Basils’ chief executive Jean Templeton describes as overlooked because they are not yet in crisis.
During the past 15 months Mohammed was being supported at two St Basils projects while studying. Before that he was homeless, having left an overcrowded family home of 10 people living in a three-bedroom house.
St. Basils is careful to ensure Trinity Court residents will be as independent as possible.
‘I had an interview, they checked my finances – they wanted to make sure that I could afford the rent and that I had no rent arrears at that time as well,’ he says.
| Mohammed shows the Minister around his apartment |
His flat has one main and one small bedroom, bathroom, lounge and kitchen.He also has a key worker with whom he has one session a month. It’s no easy ride, however, besides studying he has to work 16 hours a week as his grant has not yet come through and he has £82 a week to pay in rent.
Mohammed believes homeless young people are misrepresented and not properly understood, especially those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, who he says are underrepresented in traditional portrayals of homelessness.
‘When you say you’re homeless and you’re Asian, it’s kind of a shock to other people because they think Asian people are well connected together. A lot of people – especially the Asian communities – move out because there’s overcrowding in the home.’
‘Homeless people have a bad name at the moment but there are homeless people with aspirations out there,’ he says.‘And if they want to get there, they’ll get there.’
His own aspirations are clear – he’s just got onto a university course in audiology (the study and treatment of the ear).
‘The flat means freedom and independence to me,’ he says. ‘Without St Basils, I wouldn’t be here.’
