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'I finally have a room of my own and a key'

Handout Mia is wearing a tartan skirt and black jumper and is stood in a house in front of a Christmas tree.Handout
Mia now has her own place and a job in a bank

A young carer who was helped to get accommodation by a football club's charity has said her confidence is now "through the roof".

Mia, now 23, had been a young carer for a parent when at 17 she found herself "sofa surfing" at friends' houses.

She was referred to Everton FC's charity housing scheme and has since been rehomed by a social housing enterprise.

Mia said: "It was such a massive change for me because, you get your own room, you get your key for your room, you'd get facilities like your own cupboard for your food."

Handout A selfie of Mia with two friends. One has a beard and is wearing dark sunglasses and a white shirt, the other is wearing a dark t-shirt.Handout
Mia said the scheme helped her develop independent living skills

"Just the little things that people may take for granted," she added.

She said it had been difficult to be homeless.

"It was tough because at the time I was in college doing a course," she said.

"I couldn't really concentrate on it that well, because I didn't really have that stability at home."

Mia was introduced to Everton in the Community (EITC) after a social worker referred her and was able to secure accommodation with the scheme Home Is Where The Heart Is.

Mia has long brown hair and is wearing lace top and a choker necklace
Mia, 23, says she is "so grateful" to have a roof over her head

The housing support service started in 2019 and has helped dozens of people since then to transition to independent living.

"People have this perception that homelessness is the man with the dog with a bit of string on a street corner," homelessness case worker for EITC, Russell Biggs, said.

"But homelessness can be the hidden homeless, people sofa-surfing, people having inconsistency of accommodation."

Russell is wearing an Everton FC t-shirt and blue Everton FC jacket
Russell Biggs said there are different types of homelessness

Mia now has her own place, a job in a bank and is in a stable relationship, all helped, she said, by the skills she has learned through EITC.

"When you live here they build you up as well," she said.

"I'm just so grateful for everything."

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