Isaac's Story.

Living with complex mental ill-health since the age of 20, Isaac was well known to local mental health services before he started sleeping rough. In and out of supported accommodation for years, Isaac was a familiar face to P3 across Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Isaac’s diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder has led him to attend injections twice a week and take daily prescription medication. His condition causes him to experience schizophrenic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and mood disorders, such as depression.

Homelessness naturally took a huge toll on Isaac’s mental and physical health, forcing him to turn to a lifestyle of substance misuse to numb his difficulties. Every time he moved into a new accommodation, he would be evicted; often the behaviours associated with his mental health cited as the cause.

By the time P3 made contact with Isaac again, he was guarded and very anxious. Eventually, after gaining his trust, he opened up about how he often felt unsafe on the street and in temporary accommodation because of his mental health – making him vulnerable to exploitation. After years of uncertainty, Isaac’s health was rapidly deteriorating; not keeping up with his prescription injections or medication.

With the risk of Covid-19 on the horizon, Isaac was moved into P3 Housing to give him a safe and secure place to stay. Given the complexity of his case, this was a huge step for Isaac – and one that was only the start of his recovery.

His new home at Acorn House gave him a great opportunity to move forward with his life, prioritising his health and wellbeing now he had a secure place to live. With each day, Isaac was growing in independence – improving his health, taking pride in his appearance and home, and gaining living skills such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting.

Re-engaging with outside agencies such as his GP, optician, dentist and addiction services, Isaac could start to see a future beyond temporary accommodation. The longer-term housing options available to him will help support his dual diagnosis and wellbeing. Isaac is working on his self-esteem, building new positive friendships within Acorn house and exploring volunteering opportunities in the local area. His highlight – reconnecting with his family.

Looking to the future, Isaac hopes to continue to rebuild his relationship with his father and siblings – hopefully getting some answers to the events from his past. He believes that identifying the connection between his childhood and his behaviour today will be a crucial step in his recovery.

For now, he relishes the feeling of safety at Acorn House and shares his dream to eventually own his own one-bedroom flat in the countryside.