Mollie arrived at Opendoors in the coldest month of the year, on bail for drink related offences and was not allowed to return home.  At the time of her arrest she had a mobile phone, £40 and the clothes on her back but no access to any of her belonging not even clean underwear.  Certainly no proof of identity documents, although she thought these might be at a friend’s house. 

The first night was spent in a prison cell, the next on a friend’s sofa.  Nights three and four were spent behind the local car wash.  She then moved to the local industrial estate for nights five to eight, sleeping amongst builders’ merchants, the council recycling centre, car mechanics and similar male-dominated businesses. 

She does have a male social worker but there was little evidence of contact perhaps unsurprising with no address.  Arriving at Opendoors she was given a hot meal, access to a shower, clean clothes and then a one-on-one session to start helping her stabilise her life. 

This support continued and a total of 7 agencies were needed over an 11-day period before finally accommodation was secured at Julian House in Salisbury, some 12 miles away (1.5 hours by bus, the only public transport available). 

Agencies included Council Housing Team, Turning Point, Rough Sleeping team, Christian Action Against Poverty, Nelson Trust, HMCT and Julian House.  She is now awaiting her court case hearing but is in a dry house and well on the road to recovering her life.