The session at All Saints Church wasn’t a typical health check setting. Held in the crypt of the church, it was organised through GrowTH, a charity supporting people who have experienced homelessness, and attended by people for whom something as straightforward as booking a GP appointment can feel out of reach. Housing insecurity makes everything harder. Including getting healthcare.
Sam had recently been given a new home after a period of homelessness. He came along to the health check and, like others there, found that being in a familiar space with an organisation he already trusted made all the difference.
After his check, Sam told us he’d been worried about recent weight gain. He left with practical dietary advice from the nurse, including suggestions for how to adapt his traditional Congolese meals to support his health goals without abandoning the food he loves.
He told us that if there are too many hoops to jump through, people just don’t bother. Being somewhere he already knew made it feel safe.
Sam asked us to check in with him in a few months to track his progress. We will!