“I never thought I’d be in this situation – now I can be me again”

Now, they're preparing to spend Christmas in a Porchlight flat - safe from the chaos of homelessness.

“For so long, I didn’t feel like I could be myself – my guard was always up,” he says. “Now, I have everything I want. I can be me again,” he says.

After the breakdown of his relationship, Dan had left the home he shared with his ex-partner. He couldn’t part with Bella, the dog he had rescued from neglect – but keeping her by his side made finding shelter almost impossible.

Fast forward 12 months and the 44-year-old is looking forward to hanging up two stockings in his own Porchlight property

“I’m going to try and spoil Bella as much as I can,” he says.

On the streets with nowhere to turn

Dan used to be a steel fixer but was recovering from heart disease and cancer. After becoming homeless, he couldn’t afford to live anywhere and staying with others was proving difficult.

“I couldn’t stay with my parents because they had a dog that Bella didn’t get along with. And it’s bad enough asking to stay on friends’ sofas if it’s just you. If you’ve got a dog, you don’t feel that you can ask at all – especially seeing as some friends have kids or pets of their own.”

For some time, Dan and Bella stayed in places where drug misuse was rife - "a last resort" that Dan describes as frightening and chaotic. Eventually, they ended up sleeping rough to escape.

“We slept in a churchyard and car park – it was the worst experience of my life and I wouldn't wish it on anyone,” he recalls.

“The nights were getting colder and I would take off my jacket and wrap it over Bella. It was freezing. I felt bad about what I was putting her through. My heart disease and cancer medication got stolen twice. I forced myself to stay awake, worried that someone would try to take Bella.”

They were finally offered temporary council accommodation but it left Dan isolated, far from family and friends.

How Porchlight helped

Things changed when Dan was finally put in touch with Porchlight. We have a limited number of properties where pets are welcome and one was available near Dan’s family. But there was a complication: Dan worried Bella might be classed as an XL Bully.

To help, we arranged a DNA test which proved Bella was a mix of many breeds, but not a banned one. Her calm temperament shone through when Dan brought her to visit and we were able to offer them a safe home together.

“I cried when I got off the phone,” says Dan, remembering the call where he found out Porchlight could help. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better – it’s a lovely flat and Bella loves it here too.”

Looking to the future

Dan credits much of their recovery to his Porchlight support worker Becky.

“Dan had lost a lot of faith in professionals,” she explains. “When he came to us, you could see the damage that had happened. But we’ve built such a lovely working relationship – both with Dan and his family. It’s been amazing to see him flourish.”

We’re so happy that Dan and Bella are spending Christmas – and beyond - somewhere safe and warm.

“Last year was my worst Christmas. This year, I’m looking forward to putting up decorations and a tree. On Christmas Day, I’ll take Bella for a swim in the sea and then she’ll stay at the flat while I see my mum and sister.

“The support Porchlight has given me is life changing. The difference it’s made is difficult to put into words.”