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WELCOME
STORIES
REAL STORIES. LASTING IMPACT.
At The Welcome Organisation, we believe that behind every person is a powerful story. Whether it’s someone who has faced homelessness and found support through our services, a volunteer who gives their time with compassion, or a supporter who has helped shape a path forward, these voices matter.
This space is dedicated to sharing those stories. Honest, moving, and deeply human, they reflect the reality of the challenges people face and the strength they show in overcoming them. They also show how a welcoming hand, a warm meal, or a listening ear can make a world of difference.
By reading these journeys, we hope you’ll see the impact of connection, community, and care. Each story is a reminder that change is possible and that no one should ever have to face hardship alone.
FROM CRISIS TO STABILITY: MY JOURNEY WITH THE WELCOME ORGANISATION
I grew up in a stable home and had what many would consider a “normal” childhood. But everything began to change when I turned 15. I started hanging out with an older crowd, going to parties, and experimenting with what people called “party drugs.” At first, it felt fun harmless even. But it didn’t stay that way for long. During those years, my mum passed away after a battle with cancer. Her loss hit me harder than I could have imagined. I didn’t know how to cope with the grief, so I turned more heavily to drugs. What started as occasional use became a crutch something I leaned on just to get through each day. As my drug use worsened, it took a toll on my relationships. My family and I drifted apart, and eventually, everything fell apart. That’s when I became homeless. At first, I stayed in hostels. But being in those environments, surrounded by others also struggling with addiction, only made things worse. I was introduced to heroin, and it wasn’t long before I was injecting. That’s when I first came to The Welcome Organisation for help. As time went on, I found myself rough sleeping more often. I began relying on The Welcome’s outreach team just to get through the day. The Drop-In Centre became a place of respite a safe space where I could feel human again. Through The Welcome, I was connected with the Belfast Inclusion Health Service’s Drug Outreach Team (DOT). After some time working with them, I was referred to the Street-Based Prescribing Team (SPT) and started on a methadone script. That was the turning point. I began reducing my heroin use and, eventually, I was able to stop completely. Around the same time, I received an offer for a flat through housing. Floating Support from The Welcome Organisation helped me move in, access financial assistance, and get settled. I’ve now been in my tenancy for a year and a half. Throughout this time, I’ve had the same floating support worker by my side. My key worker is just a phone call away, and I honestly don’t know where I’d be without them. I’m deeply thankful for everything they’ve done and continue to do for me.
REBUILDING ME: HOW CATHERINE HOUSE HELPED ME START OVER
From the age of 19, I was in a relationship with my children’s father, a time marked by domestic violence. On New Year’s Eve, after a particularly brutal episode that left me with a black eye and a broken arm, I walked down to the police station. Luckily, the officer on duty had just been trained in domestic abuse cases. He took me to the hospital and then to a Women’s Aid refuge. He even came back the next day to check if I was OK. His compassion and dedication were a lifeline during that dark time. I knew that whenever things got unbearable, Women’s Aid was there for me. Eventually, I reached a breaking point. One day, I went to the shop for a pint of milk and never returned. I took my kids, packed what I could, and disappeared for three months to escape the chaos. In my 30s, life took another turn. I started dabbling with drugs, which only compounded the challenges I was facing. I dealt with unimaginable scenarios and losses: These experiences worsened my PTSD, and drugs became a way to cope. Despite it all, I continued working and raising my three children as a single mother. For 10 years, I functioned as an addict, juggling work and parenting while living through periods of homelessness. Each time something went wrong, our windows were smashed. Paramilitaries were always looming. I’ve never lived in the same place for more than five years since I was born, now at 50 years old, I still haven’t found that stability. I eventually became clean and sober for five years. During this time, I volunteered on the streets and worked with Teen Challenge, helping others who were in the same situations I once was. I connected with them because I had been there. But then COVID hit, and the isolation brought me back to my old habits. I relapsed after five years of sobriety, and that started another downward spiral. Two years ago, I found myself at the Welcome Organisation with a broken hand, seeking help. They placed me in temporary accommodation, but I had to move several times before finally finding a bit of stability. At one point, I was faced with the prospect of being sent to Londonderry, where I’d have to put my dog in a pound. The uncertainty of finding a place to stay every night was overwhelming. My drug use began to change me in ways I didn’t recognize. I lost touch with who I was. If it weren’t for the opportunity to stay at Catherine House, I don’t know where I would be right now. This place is more than just a roof over my head, it’s a community. It’s given me time to settle, to address my issues, and to learn how to live differently. Staying here for two years has allowed me to rebuild my life. I joined the USell program, where I started making soaps and took a digital arts course. It was challenging, but I pushed through. Now, I have my own brand and business. I even had the chance to participate in "The Ultimate Pitch" through Go Succeed, which connected me with a mentor and gave me my first real taste of business. I’ve always had a passion for marketing, and the pitch part came naturally to me. Along the way, Bridge of Hope has helped me confront my trauma and PTSD. I’ve put in the hard work, facing my past head-on, so I don’t fall back into homelessness or addiction. The old me looks at the new me with pride, cheering me on. I’ve learned that when tough times hit, I can handle them without turning to drugs. The support here at Catherine House has been a game-changer. The staff have been incredible; they’ve given me the space to grow but also the guidance I’ve needed when things got tough, and they helped me rediscover the skills I thought I’d lost. I’ve had the time and support to get my life back on track, and I feel hopeful about the future. When I eventually leave Catherine House and move into my own home, I know I’ll have the foundation to succeed.
