Housing at No.3
Being Oasis’ oldest project, Housing at No. 3 does a great job of modelling what Oasis is all about!
Providing temporary accommodation to young women who find themselves homeless, Housing at No.3 is a beacon of hope in it's community. Since its opening in 1990 Housing at No.3 has been a home to over 100 young women between the ages of 16-25. Lives have truly been transformed as Eleanor, an ex-resident, explains below.
As well as providing a vital refuge for these young women, Housing at No.3 ensures that each resident leaves with all they need for independent living at the end of their stay (usually between one year and eighteen months).
Having identified each residents needs at the start of their tenancy, staff work hard to develop a tailored programme of support to meet these needs. This can be hard work – but when you hear stories like that of Eleanor, it is extremely rewarding, and there are literally hundreds of similar stories thanks to the work of Housing at No.3.
Eleanor's Story
I came to the UK in 2002 as an unaccompanied minor, thanks to the help of family friends. I lived with guardians, but then the wife had a baby, and I had to move out because it was only a two-bedroom flat. The local authority put me up in a hotel, but I was 16 and had no one to talk to. I asked my housing officer, and they told me about Oasis.
I have learned life skills here and I have attained a lot. I have learned cooking and they have taught me about hygiene and cleanliness, and also budgeting. Now I have a flat and I am about to move in. I am studying at college for a diploma in health studies, and I hope to go to university. I want a career in general nursery and midwifery.
I am very excited to be moving on, but I’m nervous as well about not having people to talk to. It is fun being here. I have no family now, but the staff at No.3 have always been there for me. They help you through your problems and they make you smile.