A Walker woman has turned her life around after struggling with addictions and her mental health left her sleeping on the streets.
Billie-Jo Mann, 25, was in a "rough state" in late 2019. A difficult childhood marked by bereavement had taken its toll and she developed issues with addiction and had trouble with the law.
After finding herself homeless, she spent three weeks on the streets - but was able to get in touch with homelessness charity Crisis. The charity was able to find her space in a hostel and even helped her find a flat in South Shields where she now lives - "for a fresh start".
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Billie Jo has also been helped by the North East charity Rise which is supporting a number of local charities as part of the Young People Forward project. That works to use sport to improve the "physical and mental health, self-esteem and resilience" of people aged between 16 and 25 who are either homeless or at risk of becoming so.
Billie Jo herself now works for Crisis on its Housing First programme.
She told ChronicleLive : "I ended up homeless after I split with an ex - I was in a really bad state, struggling with drinking and taking drugs. I was living with friends for a while. I had had a miscarriage too.
"But I got sober and got in touch with Crisis. I was living on the streets at the time, they helped me first get into a hostel."
Support from the charity continued and help from her duty worker Gemma led to Billie-Jo being able to stabilise her life and now help others. Billie Jo added: "She's the most amazing woman. If it wasn't for her I'd not be here now. When I didn't really want to be here any more she helped me see the potential in myself for the first time."
As for her job now, Billie Jo - who offers peer support within Crisis' Housing First team - said: "The reality of Housing First is that you work with lots of incredibly vulnerable people who might have problems with mental health or drugs. It's not quite about inspiring them but from my side I can help them see that no matter the situation or where you come from, you can change your life."
Housing First works on the principle that giving someone stable housing can be a springboard to helping them manage other problems they may be facing.
Billie Jo added: "It's an amazing feeling to be able to help. Some people have been living on the streets for years - now they might have their own little flat. I would just say to people: Never lose faith."
The Young People Forward project, funded by the London Marathon Charitable Trust, also sees Rise working with organisations like South Tyneside Churches Key Project and the Albert Kennedy Trust.
Johnny Tulip, sports and exercise tutor for the Crisis learning team in Newcastle, added: "Rise and the Young People Forward funding enabled us to provide additional opportunities for both our existing and our new young members facing homelessness.
"This support allowed us to provide a sports project involving activity sessions, exercise programmes and adventure away days in addition to the support we give through our wider learning, housing, employment and progression teams, which are crucial in helping us to improve the overall wellbeing and personal situations of our members, helping them get closer to leaving homelessness behind for good.
"The young people we’re working with have said that taking part in the sports activities has given them a break from the concrete jungle of city life, helping to reduce their feelings of isolation and loneliness brought on by the pandemic."
Billie Jo - a keen footballer - added: "The help I’ve received has been incredible. I’ve grown in confidence; I’m fitter and healthier with a future to look forward to. I wouldn’t wish homelessness and what I’ve been through on anyone. It’s great to be able to give something back by helping people who are struggling like I was.
"No one chooses to be homeless, people don’t understand what’s led to it and I want to work with organisations like Crisis and Rise to build more understanding and compassion."
Rise's Ruth Nicholson, continued: "It’s extremely sad that homelessness continues to be so widespread in our society.
"The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the inequalities faced by many youngsters and this project uses the power of physical activity, collaboration and learning to help mitigate the factors that are causing young people to experience homelessness or find themselves at risk of it.
"Billie Jo’s story is inspirational and proves the need for initiatives like this. Despite the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Young People Forward Project is now making a positive impact on the lives of young people in our region and helping to boost their health and happiness."
