‘They are young, scared and just need a safe space’
A KIND-HEARTED Teesside woman opens her home once a month to strangers who are at risk of homelessness.
Sue Antrobus volunteers with Nightstop service based in the North East, which is in urgent need of volunteers so that they can continue to be there for young people who are sleeping rough.
The Guisborough woman, who works full-time for a wildlife charity, has spoken about the misconceptions around people who are at risk, explaining that she has encountered “young, scared and vulnerable” individuals.
Sue, who is in her 50s, has hosted around 45-50 people at risk of homelessness over the last four years.
She explained that she hosts one person each month or so, “which works out well and is a good balance”.
“They usually stay for one night while Nightstop staff work hard behind the scenes to secure them more permanent accommodation,” she added.
Across the North East, from 2022 to 2023, Nightstop volunteers have provided over 200 safe nights for young people at risk of homelessness.
Speaking about the emergency accommodation service, Sue said: “The sad thing is that there’s a misconception that people at risk of homelessness are a certain type of way, and I want to make it clear that in my experience, the people who turn up with the Nightstop staff at my door, are young, scared, vulnerable and most often have had to take a break from their family home, or needed to leave their homes very quickly.
“They just need a safe space for the night and are usually exhausted from the horrible consequences of finding themselves in such a frightening situation.
“Often, they’ll just want to go to their room, which I set up for them before they arrive. I will cook and give them the wi-fi code.
“Some of the people who stay like to eat with me, but others just want their own space. I’ve hosted a lot of students, and people who have fallen out with their parents.
“You certainly don’t need to be a councillor, and the Nightstop staff do all the hard work, but in all honesty, I really like to listen to the people who come to stay, if they want to talk. I try to let them know that this is just a moment in time, and things will get better.”
Sue added: “Some of the young people are so grateful they feel like they want to give you something when they leave. I remind people that if they want to do anything, there’s always the option of ‘paying it forward’ when they’re in a position to help others.
“For me, it’s just lovely to see how a small thing can help people, as many of them have been through trauma, so it helps to rebuild their confidence in humanity.”
Sue says she remembers one young woman who was ‘a real introvert.’
However, she loved animals and was excited to meet Sue’s cat, Misty.
“That night, the cat slept on her bed, and they really enjoyed each other’s company,” Sue explained.
“She said she had to give up her own pet at the time she was made homeless.
“Another, said she was born and raised in India as a young child, and she told me that the hilly moors reminded her of home.
“She asked if we could run up and down them, so there we were until 6 O’clock at night using our phones as torches running down these hills.”
She added: “Nightstop is an extremely well run and safe service. I would recommend hosting if you have a spare room as one night can help change someone’s life.”