This Christmas can you help us support local people like Dean?  

‘Without Genesis this city doesn’t even know who I am’ ~ local resident, Dean 

As you will know, BaNES is one of the least affordable places in the UK to live, with house prices around 13.4 times the annual earnings*. There are around 2,533 fewer social rented homes in BaNES than equivalent sized authorities*.  

At Genesis Life Projects we are seeing the reality of this problem in the lives of local people. Most of our clients are homeless, in social housing or vulnerably housed (living on a boat, sofa-surfing or at risk of eviction).  

Dean, grew up in Bath and until a year ago, worked in a local restaurant and rented a house with housemates. He had been paying cash and had no contract. 

When the landlord decided to sell the house, Dean and his housemates were given notice. Once Dean was the only remaining resident his landlord came round before the notice ended, shouting and threatening him. Frightened, Dean spent the night moving his belongings and left. 

Dean soon got support with a deposit for another shared house, but things quickly felt unsafe. With no locks on the bedroom doors his landlord came into the bedrooms uninvited. Dean felt powerless to question the situation and moved out again. 

Having exhausted the generosity of friends, his next home was to be 40 feet up in a tree, the only place he felt safe. Dean’s creativity enabled him to build a lattice of netting, secure enough for him to sleep and live in his tree. 

Dean spent months trying to get support for accommodation, but he was continuously told he was ineligible. His insecure living situation had left him unable to work. He felt hopeless and alone. 

Dean has been living with undiagnosed Autism. Autistic individuals can experience a range of mental health challenges, often exacerbated by societal misunderstanding and creating barriers to support. 

Eventually Dean was brought to Genesis Life Projects by another client.  

‘As soon as I started coming here, it was a different thing altogether. You actually listened to me.’ 

Through our interlinked projects Dean had access to food, showers and one-to-one support for his housing needs. We connected him to partnership agencies such as Julian House and Reach home-search. For Dean it was the person-centred support that made the difference.  

‘When you come into Genesis everyone is eating soup or drinking coffee. It’s a community. You don’t have to re-explain your situation each time or justify where you’re at with it all.’ 

Dean is currently in a house with other people who need emergency housing, but it’s far from ideal. The recovering addicts he lives with often take drugs. 

But we will continue to work with Dean until he feels safe. We have enabled Dean to secure an Autism diagnosis with his doctor which will help him access accommodation suitable for his needs. Once Dean feels safe in his home, I am hopeful he will join our Life Course, which will help him identify positive boundaries and support his mental health as he moves forward in his life. 

Dean’s story is not uncommon in our city. The housing crisis is hitting our most vulnerable residents the hardest. This Christmas will you help us treat people like Dean with the dignity and respect they deserve? Please help us support local people who find themselves without safety or a place to call home. 

Thank you for your support. 

*BaNES Housing Plan 2025-2030 (www.bathnes.gov.uk/document-and-policy-library/housing-plan)