Sophie* was desperate to leave her previous neglectful living situation. She and the person who was supposed to be caring for her rarely spent time with each other, and she felt that they simply did not care about her at all.

After years of feeling as though she didn’t belong, Sophie was at an incredibly low point in her life before she reached out to Step by Step for help.

Once Sophie got in contact with us, we were able to find her a Supported Lodgings placement with a nurturing and supportive host family who welcomed her into their home with open arms.

Sophie now sees herself as part of her host family and knows that they genuinely care about her.

She’s been really enjoying cooking with her host and being included in family dinners, something she says would never have happened where she was living previously. Even a simple “Hello. How was your day?” from her host family makes her feel as though she belongs.

Sophie is now thriving in her current Supported Lodgings placement. She has managed to maintain her job at a local sandwich shop and is currently on the hunt for more financially stable work as she’s saving up to fund her own car and insurance.

She’s become more independent in dealing with a medical condition she has and now feels empowered to be able to take control of her appointments - although she knows the support is there when she needs it.

When talking about her current placement, Sophie told Step by Step: “I feel like I belong here and can be myself. Everyone is so lovely to me, and it’s a place that I can call home.”

*Name changed to respect privacy