Yousef's Story

Summary

Yousef fled war but faced isolation, addiction, and the threat of eviction in London. With support from our bilingual Community Navigators, he found safety, sobriety, and a renewed connection to community.

Full Case Study (verbatim)

Yousef, a Syrian refugee in Islington, was living with trauma and PTSD after fleeing conflict. To cope, he turned to alcohol and drugs, which led to disruptive behaviour like loud arguments and property damage. This strained relations with neighbours and put him at risk of eviction. Isolated and unable to access services due to limited English, Yousef was referred to a bilingual Community Navigator. The Navigator supported him to access trauma therapy and substance misuse services in Arabic, apply for Universal Credit and a Discretionary Housing Payment, and mediated with neighbours to rebuild trust. With this support, Yousef avoided eviction, reduced his substance use, began therapy, and reconnected with a local Syrian support group, restoring stability and community in his life.