Life in Lockdown

Hope-Garden-coronavirus-crisis-PPE lockdown homelessness

Our doors have stayed open and our staff have continued working to ensure that residents remain supported.

Staying at home has been a big adjustment for all of us. Whether you’ve been working from home, keeping children entertained while schools are closed, or finding new ways to stay in touch with loved ones.

We’ve been inspired by the way so many of our clients and staff have taken lockdown as an opportunity to be creative, and a time to reflect.

Eleanor has been living at Hope Gardens for six months. After experiencing homelessness at a young age, Eleanor managed to secure a flat in London where she lived for 22 years.

Sadly, she fell into rent arrears and was evicted from her home last year. For around eight months Eleanor sofa surfed at friends’ houses but, when her friends were away, she had no choice but to sleep rough.

We’ve been inspired by the way so many of our clients and staff have taken lockdown as an opportunity to be creative, and a time to reflect.

We caught up with Eleanor to find out how she was managing her time under the new restrictions.

Sometimes it can get you down, not being able to have visitors or go out. I lost all my stuff when I lost my flat but, in a way, I’m glad because I’m much happier here with the support I get.

If I was stuck on my own coping with everything that’s going on at the moment, I would feel really isolated.

I’ve been embroidering to keep me busy. From the very first week of lockdown I came downstairs to be with everyone, and I’ve done every one of the jigsaw puzzles.

Last week I ordered some wool, I’m going to make a rainbow jumper. At the end of the day, I feel so lucky to be here. I just want to thank everyone for everything.


Find out about St Mungo’s response to the coronavirus and how you can help here.