A TEENAGER who was asked to leave his family home because of his sexuality has revealed how a Kidderminster charity turned his life around.
Archie, 18, who had faced derogatory remarks about his sexuality from family members, came to Wyre Forest and South Worcestershire Nightstop after being unable to remain in the family home.
The remarks had a notable impact on his self-confidence and self-esteem, but Archie remained committed to being himself, which had contributed to his homelessness situation.
Archie, from the Wyre Forest, was accompanied by his partner, and the duo discussed the challenges they had faced, including discrimination from family and friends.
As a result, Archie was very apprehensive about seeking shared accommodation, but he was placed with a Nightstop host, who welcomed him into an open and supportive home.
Over time, he said he felt comfortable being able to talk about his experiences and future aspirations.
Whilst staying with his host family, Archie continued to work, but when his hours were reduced, this again impacted his mental health and working relations.
Nightstop assisted him with looking for alternative work and helped him to sign up with a local recruitment agency, and through this, Archie went on to secure full-time employment at Lens Online.
With stable employment and a regular income, Archie began searching for independent accommodation with the support of the Nightstop team.
Archie and his partner decided to explore private rentals together and managed to find somewhere affordable where Archie could feel safe and secure, and even take their pet dog.
Archie said: “I couldn’t have asked for nicer hosts. They made me feel like I belonged, and I will miss them.”
“I don’t know what I would have done without the staff at Nightstop, it’s nice to be checked on since I’ve moved to make sure I’m ok.”
Wyre Forest and South Worcestershire Nightstop offers life-changing support, volunteers, and community action.
Nightstop provides safe emergency accommodation for young people aged 16 to 25 through trained volunteer hosts.
The service also delivers family mediation for young people aged 11 to 25 and their families, crisis support, and educational programmes in schools and colleges to raise awareness of youth homelessness and promote communication skills.
