Comfort’s experience of student homelessness

Arriving in the UK with just £500

Comfort is a 34-year-old student who graduated from a planning and development degree at Christian Service University, in Ghana, to gain entry to the University of Glasgow. When she got to the UK, she had just £500 with her. She relied on help from a family she was set up with through her church and small amounts of money from her retired mother. It wasn’t enough for a room of her own.

Despite having nowhere permanent to live when she arrived in Scotland, Masters student Comfort didn’t realise she was considered homeless. With the threat of rough sleeping looming and winter approaching, Comfort sent hundreds of job applications in a desperate search for work and accommodation all while juggling her studies.

Comfort’s situation caused her mental health to suffer severely, as well as impacting her grades. She spent every spare minute applying for jobs or volunteering to gain experience, all to no avail.

“It was really hard,” she reflected. “I had so little money and was getting nowhere trying to find work. I put on a positive face, but behind it I was crashing down. I know I had a roof over my head, but I didn’t have a home – somewhere to go back to that was my own. I couldn’t pay rent, and I couldn’t get a job. The uncertainty around it was so hard to deal with, and I was in a mental health crisis.”

 

All too common for students

Social Bite founder Josh Littlejohn acknowledges that the situation faced by Comfort and thousands of other students across Scotland shows how urgently the accommodation crisis needs to be brought under control, arguing student housing must be integrated into local housing strategies.

“Rent controls should include purpose-built student accommodation, and more financial support for students who are at higher risk of homelessness, such as an estranged student grant that can be paid year-round and not just within term time,” he said. “There also needs to be more guarantor services for UK national students as there is currently only one, and it is very expensive. International students currently have very limited rights to work making it harder for them to meet their cost of living currently.”

 

Seeking support with Social Bite

It wasn’t until Comfort sought help through Social Bite’s Jobs First programme that the situation improved. Together with her Development and Support Worker, Ambreen, Comfort secured a role in a Harvester restaurant in January – almost four months after arriving in Scotland. Although she is limited to 20 hours per week on a student visa, she has been able to earn enough for her own room and has seen a huge improvement in her grades.

“Social Bite came through,” Comfort said. “Even though it was hard at first as I didn’t have experience, they helped me through it. Having a job, earning my own money, and then finding a room was totally transformational. I never sleep well, but that first night I fell asleep before 8pm and slept right through to 8am – I’d never slept like it. Maybe this is how it is to be at peace.”

 

Looking to the future

Comfort has ambitions to be a teacher in Scotland, but whilst she finishes studying her work with Harvester has gone from strength to strength.

Ambreen said, “I’m so proud of how far Comfort has come since we first met. She’s shown resilience and confidence in the face of adversity, tackling the obstacles that prevented her from initially securing employment and a place to call home. Comfort’s hard work and brilliant people skills have rewarded her in both her studies and her work. It’s a pleasure supporting her on her journey.”

Harvester Hillington’s Manager Melanie Roberston said, “It’s no surprise that Comfort has won employee of the month. From when I first saw her excel in a group interview, I knew she was capable of great things. Working together with our Jobs First Development and Support Worker Ambreen, it’s been easy to support Comfort and it’s wonderful to see how she has blossomed into an outstanding Harvester team member.”

Nearly a year since she began work, Comfort is feeling a lot more confident in herself and her studies. “My advice to anybody in my situation is don’t give up – there is somebody out there who can help. When you meet that person, your mind will be blown by how much they will help. There is hope in humanity.”