Jordan’s Story

How did YMCA Support Jordan to belong, contribute and thrive?

Jordan had been sleeping rough in a grit salt bin for shelter. He recalls digging himself into the salt at night to help keep him warm over winter. He was struggling with substance misuse and in his words, “needed a lot of help.”

He arrived at YMCA MK in February 2023 and moved into our Supported Living accommodation.

“I’d not had a bed in so long or a TV I could turn on. I fell asleep at like 2 pm.”

How did YMCA MK Support Jordan? 

• Homelessness – we gave him a safe space to stay and a daily meal.
• Poor mental health and substance misuse – we got to know Jordan and worked with him to decide what support he needed. He was also given specialist support where necessary.
• Lack of employment direction – we helped him to identify what he wanted to do in life, where his skills were and where we could support him to achieve his goals.
• Financial issues – we worked with Jordan to give him the budgeting advice he needed and support him to access the support he was entitled to.

He became heavily involved in the activities programme and became a YMCA Youth Ambassador, something which he is very proud of.

Jordan has now moved on to his future home with his fiancé whom he met here at the YMCA. They are now proud parents to their first baby together! Most importantly, he says he is now finally happy.