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

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."

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, 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 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."