Maia* shares how EveryYouth’s Future Builders programme helped her move from homelessness to stability, saving for a home and studying IT:

I’m Maia and I’m 20 years old. My family moved to England from East Africa when I was 16 years old and I finished L3 IT and Computing at college here. At first it was really hard to integrate into a new country.

During that time I had issues with my dad and he threw me out of the house.

I stayed with a friend for a few weeks and thankfully my school tutor put me in touch with my local EveryYouth charity, Roundabout.

I was put on the waiting list for a room in supported accommodation provided as part of EveryYouth’s Future Builders programme, and a week later I could move in. The house was fully furnished which made moving in so easy. I lived with four others and we shared a kitchen and bathroom. Sometimes it was difficult to share these spaces but everyone was friendly.

I was offered support for cooking and budgeting while staying there, but I already felt quite independent.

I stayed in the Future Builders property for a year and during that time I worked 32 hours a week in a warehouse for Amazon. Because the rent was £180 a month, I was able to save up enough money to pay for a deposit on a rental property, so my friend and I could move in together.

We moved into the rental three months ago and I’m proud of myself.

“When I was homeless, I was so stressed and depressed but now I am positive and hopeful about the future.”

My new house is quiet and private. I’m now completing a Level 4 IT course online because I hope to work in cyber security or software engineering. The course I’m doing now is about 8-10 months long.

I just love IT, I have the passion for it. I plan to also complete the Level 5 IT course online too and then do a ‘top up year’ at college before looking for a permanent job.

I’m still working night shifts at Amazon and then studying online when I’m home.

The Future Builders building was shared accommodation so obviously there were some disadvantages. The rooms were private but the kitchen was shared and sometimes it got dirty because not everyone wanted to do the cleaning. Sometimes the other flatmates were noisy.

“I wouldn’t have been able to save up enough money for a rent deposit without the Future Builders programme. It was really, really helpful.”

I feel stable right now, and positive and excited about my future.

I would love to get a job in programming or mobile app development. At school I was interested in the robotics and tech classes and I learned about computing and software. That’s where I loved to spend my time.

I would love to volunteer for Roundabout as well.

My advice to other people in this situation would be to just get help. Don’t be shy, ask for help. Don’t just suffer in silence and be depressed.

Find out how we support more young people with our Future Builders programme.

*Name has been changed.