Meet Michael who before joining HARP worked as a black cabbie for ten years.

Michael says: “I always wanted a role where I could make a difference, and at HARP, I’ve found that. I work for HARP’s Heath House service which supports people who come to us straight from the streets. When they arrive, they are downtrodden, but within days, you can see a real change as they eat healthier food and sleep in a proper bed.”

Michael highlights how the patience, organisation, and people skills he used as a cabbie help him in his role in support work: “If you don’t want a 9-to-5 office job and you want to help people, this is a role you should consider. It’s rewarding and no two days are the same. I love working here. I’ve learned so much in the year I’ve been here. I was nervous about my lack of IT skills, but the team I work with is great, and they’ve supported me in getting up to speed in all areas of the role.

Meeting the range of people we support, I’ve learned that it’s true what they say – most people are only one step away from homelessness. Sometimes in life, a relationship breakdown or job loss can take you down a difficult path. It takes time for people we work with to trust again but when they start to it is really rewarding.”