New hub 'saw potential' in man after prison release

Kevin Yates said without help from The Lantern Trust he would still be on the streets

A man who was living on the streets has described how a new mental health hub in Dorset helped him get back on his feet.

Kevin Yates, 64 from Portland, Dorset, said the team at Hope House in Weymouth believed in him and saw his potential after he was released from prison.

Charity The Lantern Trust partnered with Dorset Health Care to open the service in February, with an aim to help people who are falling through the cracks.

It tries to make mental health care more holistic, offering creative writing, yoga, and arts and crafts classes alongside counselling.

The hub has already helped 400 people and 90 of those are getting ongoing intensive one-to-one support.

After four years in prison Mr Yates was homeless and living out of his car

Mr Yates was released from prison last February and said he found himself homeless and living in his car in freezing temperatures.

He was put up in emergency accommodation to escape the cold weather and said now, with the help of Hope House, he has a stable place to live.

“I wrapped up in as many layers, I slept full clothed, finding somewhere to go and get food," he said.

"You just take each day as it comes, and hope you’ll get through to the next day.

“It was them believing in me, ignoring my past and seeing the potential in my future again that has helped me get back on my feet and become self-employed.”

Mike Graham from The Lantern Trust said its about helping people before they are in crisis

Mike Graham, chief executive of The Lantern Trust, said: “Sometimes when people are approaching a crisis there can be lots of different reasons why they are there.

“It could be a housing issue, benefits issue, relationship issues or that they are isolated.

“Although there might be the need in the future for a mental health service, lots of people just need a space to be heard, listened to, and be connected to their local communities and that’s the very principle of Hope House.”

The plan is to roll out this service to the whole of Dorset in the coming months.