Amina’s story with TR Greenwich
23 February 2026
After months of sofa surfing and struggling with her mental health, Amina found stability at our TR Greenwich service
When Amina* arrived at our Thames Reach Greenwich supported accommodation service, she had been moving from sofa to sofa for months, unsure where she would sleep next. After being asked to leave home due to disagreements with her family around religion and culture, she spent months staying temporarily with friends, often in homes where space was already limited. She described how difficult that time felt: “I didn’t like the fact that I was depending on people… I don’t like to feel like a burden.”
The instability took a serious toll on her wellbeing. Without a place of her own, she began drinking heavily to cope with stress and uncertainty, explaining that she was “on the verge of becoming an alcoholic” during that period.
A fresh start at TR Greenwich
When her local council helped her secure a place at TR Greenwich, the impact was immediate. Having a room of her own changed how she felt day to day: “I knew I had my own space. I knew that I didn’t have to feel like a burden… mentally this place has helped me a lot.”
She has now been living at the service for just a short time, but says the difference is already clear. The stability has helped her cut down dramatically on drinking, and regular meetings with her support worker mean she always has someone to check in with. Those conversations matter, she says, because “you never know what somebody’s going through.”
Feeling safe has also been key. She spoke about the reassurance of strong safety measures and staff presence, describing the environment simply as “top tier” when it comes to security.
Amina is a recent university graduate in International Relations and is now thinking about her next steps. For the time being, she hopes to return to work while she considers further study and a possible future in teaching. She also has personal goals she wants to work towards, from keeping active to learning new skills. Despite everything she has been through, she is focused on moving forward and building the life she wants.
Her experience has changed how she sees services like TR Greenwich. “People don’t really understand how much it helps,” she reflected. “You can go from having everything one day, it’s literally having nothing.”
For her, having somewhere safe, stable and supportive has made all the difference — not just as a place to stay, but as a foundation for what comes next.
*Name changed to protect identity.
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