A day in my life ...

"Before I left home I was pregnant and was planning to move out but unfortunately me and my family were evicted from our house the week before I gave birth. I then lived with my family in a family unit hostel, but because it was overcrowded I moved into a mother and baby unit where I currently live. Life in a hostel is to me very depressing because there are so many rules to follow which makes it feel miles from home. It feels like hell sometimes as I can only have two guests at a time, and male guests aren't allowed - even friends. I want to be as independent as possible, but I feel held back by my housing situation. I just wish me and my baby could get a place of our own we could call home."

"I first moved out when I was 16, thought I knew it all and could cope on my own. I learnt through my mistakes - running up a phone bill and not being able to pay it, therefore the phone got cut off - mum and dad weren't there to pay it now. Forgetting to buy electric so halfway thorugh Eastenders I'm sat in the dark. Also, I only really had the furniture and stuff that was in my room, I had to buy stuff like a hoover, iron, ironing board, things you take for granted when you're at home. That's why it's good to try and save some money so that you can buy the essentials. Through losing my job I became homeless. I couldn't afford my rent so went on benefits and into supported accommodation. I didn't know what to expect and heard horror stories about hostel life - drugs, getting robbed, beaten up. Thankfully it wasn't like that - we had our own flats, small but beggars can't be choosers. There was a number you could ring if there were any problems. Some people do break the rules, but they risk getting kicked out - you have to mess up pretty bad for that though. Most homeless people I know want to work or study but can't as you have to be on benefits to have supported accommodation and a lot of people need support - it's a Catch 22 situation some of the time. You can get support with everything; rehousing, going back to work, confidence building, education, relationships etc. Its best to make the most of the help youre being offered - if you work you have to pay for all that."

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