How Your Generosity Impacts Lives 

Lisa's Story

I never thought my life would end up like this. A few years ago, I had a job, a home, and dreams for the future. I wasn’t rich, but I got by. Then everything fell apart. A toxic relationship drained me emotionally and financially, and when it ended, I had nothing. No family to turn to, no savings, no safety net. I was behind on rent, and before I knew it, I was evicted.

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I tried everything. I slept on friends’ sofas, but that didn’t last long. I applied for jobs, but without a stable address, no one wanted to hire me. Hostels were full, and food banks could only do so much. The fear of being completely alone, of sleeping on the streets with nowhere to go, became unbearable.

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Then someone made me an offer—just for one night, just to cover food and a warm place to stay. I told myself I had no choice.

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That first time after I had sex with a stranger, I cried for hours. 

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But one night turned into another. And another. The shame, the fear, the loneliness, it consumed me. I felt like I wasn’t even a person anymore, just something to be used and forgotten. I stopped looking people in the eye. I stopped hoping for anything better.

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Then, one day I met some volunteers from Saffires.

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It was late, and I was standing on a cold, empty street when a small group of women approached me. I expected the usual, judgment, pity, maybe someone telling me to “just get a real job.” But instead, they smiled. One of them handed me a hot drink, another gave me a small bag with toiletries and snacks.

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They didn’t ask anything of me. They just said, “If you ever need someone to talk to, we’re here.”

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That moment stuck with me. A few weeks later, I found the courage to reach out. And for the first time in years, I felt safe.

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Saffires helped me apply for emergency housing so I wouldn’t have to sleep rough.

They connected me with support services for women like me. 

They helped me believe I could be more than just what my circumstances had made me.

I am very grateful for their support.