Eighteen-year-old Faye was living with her violent alcoholic father, who regularly threw her out of home. She often relied on the kindness of friends to give her an emergency bed for the night, but when the favours ran out, Faye faced the prospect of a bitterly cold night on the street.

Faye suffers from a medical condition so severe that it has damaged her liver. To keep it under control, she must keep scrupulously clean. Faye turned up at a Shelter advice centre frantic with worry. Just a few nights sleeping rough would have been enough to put her in hospital.

We explained to Faye that her health problems meant she was entitled to council accommodation – and we contacted the housing department on her behalf to make sure she had a safe place to stay for the next few nights.

Over the next few weeks, Faye kept in regular contact with her Shelter caseworker, who helped her apply for housing, and claim the benefits she was entitled to. Shelter also put Faye in touch with other agencies who would help give her the skills she needed to make the difficult transition to independent living.

It’s been tough for Faye, but with Shelter’s help, she has put her turbulent past behind her and built a new life.