Couple in York house young woman facing homelessness
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Mike and Beth Edwards of York, England opened their spare bedroom to Ava, a 22-year-old woman who became homeless after a relationship ended.
The couple learned about Ava through SASH (Safe and Sound Homes), a youth homelessness charity, and have hosted five young people in four years. SASH currently works with 19 host families to provide temporary or longer-term housing for vulnerable young people.
The Edwards family offers Ava not only a room, but also includes her in daily life, sharing meals and conversation. They help her develop life skills like budgeting and job searching, while SASH provides regular support and covers expenses of £130 per week. Mike and Beth acknowledge the challenges of hosting, such as dealing with unexpected situations and allowing time for guests to adjust, but emphasize the rewards of helping someone rebuild their life.
Ava describes feeling lost before finding support with the Edwards family and SASH, and appreciates the safety and security they provide. Centrepoint, a charity, estimates nearly 124,000 young people in the UK will face homelessness this year due to issues like family breakdown or leaving care. SASH aims to break the cycle of homelessness by offering more than just accommodation, and relies on donations to continue its work.
