“You saved my life” - Sarah's story

Sarah struggled with anxiety and depression, and every day felt like a battle just to keep going. To numb the pain, she began drinking heavily.

Before long, everything started to fall apart.

She moved from one place to another, never finding anywhere she could truly call home. She spent time in temporary accommodation, slept in her car when she had nowhere else to go and lost her place in a residential support service because of her alcohol use.

Each setback knocked her confidence a little more until she found herself with no one to turn to and nowhere safe to go.

When someone has experienced severe trauma, simply surviving each day can take all their energy. Looking for help, keeping appointments or trusting new people can feel overwhelming after years of living in fear.

Things became even more difficult when Sarah was told she was intentionally homeless, meaning she couldn't access the housing support she desperately needed. At a time when she needed stability most, another door had been closed.

Many survivors of domestic abuse are forced to leave their home to stay safe. It's not a choice anyone wants to make.

When our support team met Sarah, she was frightened and exhausted. She was struggling both mentally and physically and had reached her lowest point.

We worked with Sarah to build trust, showing her that, with the right support, there was hope and that she didn't have to face everything alone.

We also worked closely with the local council to challenge the decision about her homelessness. When that decision was successfully overturned, Sarah was able to access temporary accommodation and begin rebuilding her life.

Having somewhere safe to stay gave Sarah immediate security, but we knew a roof over her head wasn't enough.

The trauma of domestic abuse doesn't disappear overnight. It can leave emotional and physical scars that last for years. Sarah needed long-term mental health support, help to address her alcohol use and people who would continue standing beside her, even when progress felt painfully slow.

With your support, that's exactly what we were able to do.

We helped Sarah access specialist mental health services, supported her to begin tackling her alcohol use and worked alongside housing teams and other professionals to make sure she had the support she needed. Every step of the way, our team was there to encourage her, listen without judgement and remind her that someone was on her side.

Her mental health remained fragile, and there were times when she struggled to engage with support. But instead of giving up on her, we kept showing up. We understood that recovery isn't a straight line and that trust is built through consistency, compassion and time.

Sarah also found comfort through one of our women-only support groups, where she met other women with similar experiences. Being surrounded by people who understood helped her feel less isolated and reminded her that recovery was possible.

Slowly, she began taking positive steps forward.

She started engaging with the support around her, remained connected to the services available and continued building a more stable future in temporary accommodation.

Her journey isn't over, but today Sarah is safe, supported and no longer facing life's challenges on her own.

When asked about her time with Porchlight, she simply said:

Sarah's story shows how closely domestic abuse, poor mental health and homelessness are connected.

People escaping abuse often lose far more than their home. They can lose their confidence, their support networks and their belief that life can ever feel safe again.

Recovery takes more than emergency accommodation. It takes kindness, persistence and someone who believes in you when you've lost all belief in yourself.

Thanks to your support, we can continue helping people like Sarah find safety, rebuild their confidence and take the first steps towards a brighter future.