“I am in my 20s, a single dad bringing up my little boy and I am a BVT tenant.
I moved around quite a bit as a young boy because my dad was in the armed forces, so have lived abroad and in various places around the UK.
We settled in Birmingham and I got a job in transport management dealing with contracts and accidents. Every day was different, it was an interesting job dealing with people and situations.
I’ll admit I made some poor decisions when I was younger and got into a few scrapes. I learnt from these past mistakes and have given talks in schools about the importance of making positive life choices. I believe so many of our young people need positive role models and support.
Due to difficult circumstances, I found myself on my own bringing up my son and homeless. For a year I was sofa-surfing with family and friends until, at last, through Homes Direct, I got offered a home with BVT. I am so happy here. I have a real home, good neighbours and green space.
Being a social housing tenant offered me the security I needed when life was difficult. I can now build a future for me and my son and start a career as a barber, which I’m now trained in. It feels like I am setting down roots for us both. I have been treated so much better than I ever was as a private tenant.”