“We realised, he doesn’t have anything, only the clothes on his back” The Wallich houses and looks after people who sometimes have nothing

Tina Rigby has worked in The Wallich’s homelessness residential services for more than 20 years. Here’s how her team shows love, care and meaningful support to people without a home in Swansea.

Everyone who moves in with us receives a hygiene pack made up everything they need to start feeling refreshed. This could be a toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, shaving foam, period products, shower gel and shampoo.

They get fresh bedding and a laundry bag – which they can take with them when they move into their new home.

We recently had someone move into one of our houses who only had the clothes on his back and a backpack of his prized possessions. He hadn’t eaten for days and was exhausted. When our team took him in, we realised he had been surviving on nothing.

So, while he slept in his new room – a deep, safe sleep – we used money donated by the public to help him. Off we went to buy him a few basic t-shirts, tracksuit bottoms, jumpers and a coat.

When he woke up, we gave him some Greggs vouchers that were gifted to us, and introduced him to other residents who pool their money to cook meals together.

Realising his health was at risk, we made sure he was registered with a GP and booked for a check up.

People without a home often have to sacrifice their basic needs – food, shelter, health, love, connection.

At The Wallich, we start by helping people out of survival mode, then work with them to thrive – making their homelessness just a part of their history, not their future.