Sulaiman’s story with STAR
29 August 2025
From rough sleeping to a secure home, Sulaiman’s journey with STAR shows the power of long-term support
The Sustaining Tenancies Accommodation & Resettlement (STAR) service is one of Thames Reach’s frontline programmes supporting people who are sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness across London. STAR works with people facing complex challenges such as poor mental health, substance use, or risk of eviction, offering specialist housing advice, welfare and debt support, and pathways into training and employment.
For Sulaiman, who has been supported by STAR for more than a decade, this service has been life-changing.
Sulaiman became homeless in 2012 after struggling with his mental health. “I was suffering from mental illness. I was living on the streets, near a church, for about three months,” he recalls. It was during this time that outreach workers connected with him, following a referral from the police. This marked the beginning of his journey with Thames Reach.
With support from STAR, Sulaiman was helped into accommodation, giving him the security he needed to begin rebuilding his life. Since then, ongoing support from his key worker has made a huge difference. “My key worker has been with me since the beginning. I visit him every month. He respects me and helps me when I feel stressed,” says Sulaiman. “I don’t have any family in the UK, so he has become my friend.”
Alongside housing support, Sulaiman has been receiving ongoing medical care for both his mental and physical health, including treatment for diabetes. He also began attending college to study English, something he has continued ever since. “That’s why now I think my English is getting better,” he says with a smile.
Although his life in the UK is now more stable, Sulaiman still longs to be reunited with his wife and two children, who live abroad. “I left my wife and two children 18 years ago. I remember them every day. My hope is to be able to bring them here,” he explains.
Despite these challenges, Sulaiman feels grateful for the support he has received. “I am very happy living in the UK, because they give me medical care and support, and my life is good.”
Sulaiman’s story shows the impact of long-term, consistent support. Through STAR, he has moved from sleeping rough on the streets of London to living in secure housing, improving his health, and continuing his education — rebuilding his life while holding on to hope for the future.
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