John & Jill were a fairly ordinary family. John had his own IT business and Jill worked part-time. The children were at school full-time. They had a mortgage and bought many of their household goods on credit.
Within a year their lives changed completely. John became very ill and lost or had to give up most of his contracts. Unable to meet mortgage and credit payments they lost everything. The house and most of its contents were re-possessed. The family became homeless and were housed in a local authority homeless unit.
Eventually they were offered a council house but could not afford the necessary furniture to move in. Credit was not an option and Jill's income meant they did not qualify for full benefits.
St. Vincent de Paul works in close partnership with the Local Authority Housing Department and so were able to help and support John and Jill with many of their furniture requirements.
At a follow-up visit some months later John's health had begun to improve and Jill was able to increase her hours of work. |
