What’s it like being a Fairoak tenant? Let them tell you in their own words.
Each of our tenants are individuals with their own unique story, their own experiences and, like us all, their own challenges.
As part of the Starts At Home Day 2024, an initiative established by the National Housing Federation, we asked a number of Fairoak’s tenants and their families if they would share their stories with us.
We asked what it’s like being one of our tenants – what’s good and, importantly, what’s not so good.
We asked about their experiences with us, if we have been able to support their independence and the way they want to live, and what we could do better.
We are incredibly thankful and appreciative to everyone who shared their story with us.
Roy’s Story
Roy is an autistic gentleman who was referred to Fairoak in the spring of 2020. Through no fault of his own, had been made homeless and was living in a friend’s shed. Understandably, Roy was extremely anxious and depressed.
Fairoak had a vacancy in one of our supported living flats in Kendal and, in extremely challenging circumstances, we managed to work with one of our contractors to get the property ready for Roy in a very short timeframe.
Hannah’s Story
Hannah is one of Fairoak’s longest standing tenants, having moved into a supported living apartment in south Cumbria in 2013. “Before then I lived in my own flat in Carlisle for around three years, which was great. But I had problems with my ex-boyfriend and eventually I lost my flat, which wasn’t so great.”
“After that, I moved to a refuge in Kendal because I needed to get away from him and be safe, and I stayed there for nearly a year.”
Staff at the refuge recommended that Hannah get in touch with Fairoak and find out about supported accommodation.
Garry and Clare’s Story
Whilst our tenants – adults with autism and learning disabilities – are the focus of our work and the reason for Fairoak’s existence, we appreciate that the voices of their parents and families rarely feature.
So having chance to talk with the parents of two Fairoak tenants, sisters who share a house near Lancaster, was an opportunity to hear their experiences and understand how their supported accommodation has impacted the lives of everyone in the family.
