From resident to relief - Julia’s Story

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Julia didn't start drinking until she was into her early 30s after living with an abusive husband she made the diffuicult decision to leave her home. With a brother working in a pub alcohol became easily accessible. It then become a regular part of her life before her mum passed away.

After the funeral, she left London and moved in with her stepfather in Guildford. It was a quiet arrangement at first, but things began to change during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

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Like many, Julia found that isolation and stress made things worse. Her drinking increased, and the situation at home became tense. She was asked to leave in a very aggressive way, with no stable place to live. Eventually, she was placed in temporary accommodation.  - That’s when she was referred to Mulberry House.

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At Mulberry House, Julia was given the chance to start again. She took part in training, built up her confidence, and made the decision to go into rehab. With support, she stopped drinking. She’s now been sober for 15 months!

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Julia now lives in her own flat nearby. She began volunteering at Mulberry House in September 2024. That led to a paid relief worker role, doing a few hours a week.

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She says coming back to the service in a staff role felt like coming home.

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She wants to support women going through what she went through. Her lived experience means she understands what residents are facing in a way others might not. Staff value her input, and the women living there trust her.

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Julia’s story shows the reality of what can happen without stable housing – and what’s possible when that support is in place

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Read about the National Housing Federation Save Our Supported Housing Campaign here.

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