Jemima was found by NOAH Outreach Worker Holly, during their searches in Luton town centre early one morning in January 2023. She was sleeping rough in the alley way of a coffee shop.

When Holly found her, Jemima was clearly confused and scared, so Holly stayed with her until she was comfortable enough to go to the NOAH Welfare Centre together.

Jemima recalls first visiting the welfare centre: “I’d been on the streets for days, or maybe even weeks. It was so cold outside, I don’t really remember much. But I do remember that first cup of tea Holly gave me at NOAH. It felt like it was warming my entire body from the inside.”

As Jemima started to relax and build trust with Holly, she shared with us her story.

Jemima grew up near Leeds. She had a difficult upbringing, being one of 5 siblings in a single parent home.

‘I knew my mum couldn’t support me forever, and she needed to focus on my younger siblings – I tried to pull my weight. But I struggled to find a job near my home. So I started to look elsewhere.

I don’t have many qualifications, but I found a job in Luton. I decided to move into a house share to save money whilst working. I had struggled with my mental health when I was in school, but felt like I was on top of it enough to be brave and take the leap.’

Jemima moved into a small house with 2 other housemates.

‘I didn’t see much of them at first, as I was working, but they had lots of people coming over, late at night and into the early hours of the morning. I noticed that when I got home, my things would have moved around and money started to go missing from my room.

I realized that my housemates were dealing and taking drugs in the house.

I didn’t feel safe, but I couldn’t afford to move anywhere else. With the cost of living increasing, I was barely scraping by as it was. So I just tried to spend as little time there as possible.’

Jemima’s workplace eventually made her redundant, having to make cut backs to save money.

‘I was so scared and worried. I didn’t have any savings, and was applying for every job I could but not getting anything back. I didn’t want to tell my family – I didn’t want them to worry. I thought I could figure it out on my own.’

‘My housemates said they could help, that they could help cover my rent if I did odd jobs for them. I knew it wasn’t right, but I was desperate. I told myself that it wouldn’t be for long, and I would find another job soon. I started to sell my belongings so that I didn’t have to do too much, including my phone, laptop, clothes. But eventually I ran out of things to sell.’

It was at her lowest point that Jemima’s housemates coerced her into dealing drugs for them.

‘My mental health was getting worse. I started to spiral into depression, and they convinced me that taking some of the drugs would help. At that point, I was so under their control, I just did what they said. I didn’t want to be kicked out onto the street.’

‘It wasn’t long after that, that they started to use me in other ways. I didn’t want to admit it then, but I can see now. I was abused. It’s still hard to talk about. I took more drugs so that I didn’t have to think about it. To numb the pain.’

‘Eventually the landlord found out about what the people in the house were doing and we were all evicted. The rest of them just left, so quickly that I barely even noticed them go. All of a sudden I was totally alone and afraid’

With no where to turn, and no one to help, Jemima ended up sleeping on the street.

‘I packed a bag with a few clothes and personal items I had left – a picture of my family back home. I can’t even remember the last time I spoke to them since I had lost my job.’

‘I moved around a lot. I tried to hide, find small spaces that I could disappear into. I was terrified of being around other people.’

‘When Holly from NOAH found me, I was so out of it, I was so scared. I didn’t know the day, the time, or even where I was really. At first I didn’t want to go to the Welfare Centre. I didn’t know if I could trust the person who had just found me on the street. But Holly was kind, patient and so reassuring.

At the Welfare Centre, Jemima had a shower, something to eat, and got a change of clothes. They also provided a mobile phone so that they could keep in touch with her.

Holly and the team at NOAH arranged a night in a hotel for Jemima, whilst looking for secure female accommodation for her to stay.

But whilst speaking with Jemima, the team noticed that she was speaking about her family a lot, and through strenuous efforts, they managed to get in touch with her sister.

It turned out that her sister had been trying to get in contact with Jemima for months, but due to her having no phone or access to a computer, they couldn’t find her. They had no idea about the situation Jemima had been in and wanted to bring her home.

‘I was so shocked to hear my sister’s voice after so long. I just cried. I knew I needed to be with her.’

The NOAH Team arranged for Jemima to travel back home, and even accompanied her on her journey to make sure she was safe. Jemima’s sister met her at the train station and took her home.

Jemima is now receiving the necessary physical and mental health support she needs, and is surrounded by her family who are so pleased to know she is now safe.

‘I don’t know what would have happened to me if Holly hadn’t found me that day. I had no plan. I was just doing whatever I had to do to survive. I cant thank Holly and NOAH enough. They saved me.’

Jemima is now safe and well, but there are so many more like her. Will you help the next desperate person in need?

Donate to NOAH this winter, and you will be keeping vulnerable people like Jemima safe.

Thank you