'Pride got in way' for man on brink of homelessness

John McGrath said he was starting to get himself back on his feet

A tenant who sought help when he was on the brink of homelessness, has admitted pride had held him back from asking for assistance.

Wrekin Housing Trust's support team helped John McGrath, 56, keep his home, after he was forced to give up work during a period of illness.

He "fell behind on everything" and had depression.

It was "total relief" to be referred to the group's Money Matters team, Mr McGrath, who lost his brother, said.

He stated: "I got cellulitis, my pancreas went, I ended up with Covid.

"I got long Covid, which has left issues, and I fell behind on everything, because I ignored everything, because the world didn't exist to me."

He said he "wouldn't ask for help" and did not want it.

"I thought 'you'll be alright next week' and it doesn't go away. Yes, I needed it, but I didn't know where to look... I didn't know who to ask.

"To lose your home [that has]... been the family home, for me to lose it, [it would be] a failure... Obviously your pride gets in the way."

Chloe Ramsey said it was rewarding to help people

Mr McGrath said that, thanks to friends and Chloe Ramsey from the trust, they had "brought me out of all this now".

She started "getting into sorting the rent out", as well as the water and electricity, the former lorry driver explained.

"I'm starting to get myself back on my feet. Obviously I've still got medical issues, but we'll live each day as it comes."

Ms Ramsey, from the Money Matters team, said it was "just lovely to see him how he is now".

She stated: "It's just really, really rewarding to help people change their lives for the better.

"We're not there to judge anybody. We have help with debt, we have help for benefits, we have help for budgeting, for energy advice."

Ms Ramsey added if people were not a tenant of The Wrekin Housing Group, there was "still support out there with StepChange [debt charity], Marches Energy [Agency] and Citizens Advice".