What Might Your Role As a Homeless Mentor Look Like

The Role – Case Study

What might your role as a Homeless Mentor look like…

Jen volunteers with Switch. Jen graduated a couple of years ago and is keen to expand her experience to achieve work in the charitable sector but at the same time wants to give something back to the community where she lives.

Jen mentors two service users; Mike lives in supported accommodation and Alice has just left a hostel and has her own place for the first time in her life.

Jen meets Mike weekly at his supported accommodation placement. They talk for an hour about how Mike is getting along, what he is looking to achieve next week and what he needs to do to make it happen. Next week Mike needs to see a doctor. Jen helps him fill out a registration form (Mike struggles with reading and writing as English isn’t his first language) and helps Mike find out what bus he needs to get to the doctors. Mike has an appointment to see a therapist. This is the first time Mike has seen a therapist and is very nervous about it. Jen offers to accompany Mike to his first appointment. Jen can see with her help Mike is accessing the services he needs to help secure his future.

Alice has recently moved out of a hostel into an area she is unfamiliar with. Alice has no support network of friends or family so is glad of the company she receives from Jen. Jen and Alice meet every week. Sometimes they talk about what Alice needs to do find work, Jen helps Alice complete her C.V. and complete application forms. Alice has never had to manage her own tenancy before so Jen helps her manage her bills and her rent. Alice finds Jen’s advice useful. Sometimes Jen and Alice will just go for coffee and cake or to the cinema. Jen has a budget from Switch so she can pay for social activities. Alice benefits from spending time with someone, it helps her settle into her new community and gives her the confidence to take forward steps with her life.