Pets are known to decrease stress and for Hightown service user, Matt, being able to have his dog live with him has had huge benefits for his mental health.
An Armed Forces veteran, Matt lives with the debilitating impact of complex PTSD. His dog Eddie has been fundamental to his recovery journey.
This year Matt moved into Hightown’s temporary supported housing service, Martin House, and, following 18 months apart, Eddie was able to join Matt in his new home.
Matt says:
“It’s hard to explain how much difference it’s made having Eddie back with me. Since I moved here my medication (for mental health) has been reduced for the first time in memory. I have flashbacks throughout the day and particularly at night. If I’m on my own in a room, it’s not a good place to be. Just having Eddie as a calming influence is essential for me.”
Matt became homeless in 2022, after losing his business during the Covid pandemic and struggling with his mental health. After a brief period sleeping rough, he approached Open Door, Hightown’s emergency night shelter in St Albans.
He says:
“My experience with Open Door was positive – the staff and facilities were great. When you’re homeless for the first time you don’t understand how the system works but they make sure you’re well-informed.”
Matt spent some time living at Hightown’s Hatfield Road temporary supported housing scheme – part of the St Albans single homeless pathway – before being allocated a flat at Martin House.
“Finding out I was moving to Martin House was a great relief and the moving-in process has been incredibly positive. I wasn’t sure what to expect but everything had been thought of, and I haven’t had to get anything since moving in. All my needs have been met, which is brilliant.
“I was absolutely blown away by the condition of the place. Everything is modern, clean and tidy – it’s not institutional. Having my own private space has been a huge change. I have quite exacting standards on cleanliness and tidiness, so I have more control now and it’s had a massive impact on my mood.
Matt also has regular input into the support he needs.
“Every couple of weeks, I have a regular sit down with my link worker. We go through everything in life, including any specific issues with the property or problems with benefits or health. The support has been massively beneficial. Hetul (Hightown’s new homelessness hub coordinator) helped me straightaway with my CV. He then referred me to the Shaw Trust charity for employment, who were then able to deal with the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) and get me onto a veterans’ employment scheme. The staff team at Martin House are warm, friendly people – the door is always open, even when it’s closed. Everyone has time for you.”
“If you had asked me three months ago what my hopes and ambitions were for the future, it would be to get a space of my own, which I’ve now achieved through Martin House. Healthwise, I now feel ready to get back to work and then I hope to find a place to move onto, where I can have my son come and stay with me.”