The 33-year-old has since turned his life around and is now preparing to start a new job.
A Co Down man says his future looks brighter thanks to a homeless health nurse who supported him after he ended up living on the street .
That nurse is Lisa Ewart, who is making a huge difference to the lives of people experiencing homelessness through her work for the South Eastern Trust.
Curtis Durose has praised Lisa’s support in helping him get back on his feet following a period of sleeping on the streets after returning from Scotland.
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Curtis, 33, has since turned his life around and is now preparing to start a new job. He credits Lisa with providing the encouragement, healthcare support and stability he needed to become stronger and begin the process of securing accommodation of his own.
“Having Lisa help and support me has been amazing. I do not think I would have made these changes or been able to stay on the right path if it was not for her involvement. I am really looking forward to starting my new job in the coming weeks. She has made a real difference to my life and I am so grateful,” he said.
Lisa works closely with local hostels, including the Simon Community in Bangor, supporting men, women and families to access healthcare services that many people take for granted. This includes registering with a GP, carrying out health assessments and screening, supporting access to dental care and contraception and helping service users attend vital medical appointments.
She also plays an instrumental role in helping people living in hostels get their healthcare needs back on track, helping them to rebuild their health and confidence before returning to independent living within the community.
Curtis Durose and Lisa Ewart, Homeless Health Nurse, South Eastern Trust(Image: )
Curtis shared his experience of homelessness saying: “I had a bit of a chaotic past with family and I was travelling around Scotland for a while. I came back home to Northern Ireland trying to rebuild connections, but unfortunately things did not work out, so I ended up in the hostel here in Bangor.
“I have been struggling with undiagnosed ADHD along with some other health issues and I have been through a lot in my life. I had never really addressed my health before and I never had the drive to pursue it. Having Lisa coming to the hostel once a week and checking in has made a huge difference.
“I now feel more empowered over my health and having Lisa here really does help keep me on top of things. It is just a little nudge in the right direction every now and then.
“Having a homeless health nurse in hostels is a vital component. A lot of people staying here may not have the drive to go to the doctor, or they might go once and then not attend again. Lisa will come by and knock on your door.
“She is not forcing you to say anything or be part of it, but just having that knock at the right time can lead to getting the help you need. It helps people get onto that first rung of healthcare and from there they can access the support they need.”
Curtis Durose and Lisa Ewart, Homeless Health Nurse, South Eastern Trust(Image: )
Lisa explained: “My role as a homeless health nurse is so rewarding, especially when you support someone to the point where they can return to the community stronger than when they first came into the hostel. It is really special to see that.
“I have had lots of nursing roles, but there is nothing quite like the reward of helping people who are homeless. Even the smallest things we do make a big difference and people are so appreciative.
“Navigating healthcare systems can be extremely challenging for people experiencing homelessness. My aim is to bridge that gap and help get them back into the system. When you are homeless, your priority is where you are sleeping that night and unfortunately health often takes a back seat.
“I support people with a wide range of needs, from managing chronic conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy, to accessing support for addiction and mental health. A lot of my role is advocacy, steering people towards services, making referrals and supporting them to attend appointments.
“Working in partnership with the hostel staff is key and provides wraparound care for Service Users. When you see people back on their feet and smiling again, there really is nothing like it.”
Curtis Durose and Adele McBurney, Senior Practitioner, Simon Community(Image: )
Simon Community, Senior Practitioner, Adele McBurney, says having Lisa visit the hostel weekly is such a vital service: “When people first come to us, we carry out an induction and identify unmet needs and healthcare is a major factor. Lisa has built such a strong rapport with our service users.
“They trust her, feel at ease and are comfortable opening up. Having healthcare assessments carried out in the relaxed environment of the hostel means people are willing to disclose much more, which benefits them greatly. It really is a fantastic service.”
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