Travis lives near Kettering and is one of our market rent customers. He’s been living in his two bedroomed flat for a month now, enjoying the peace and quiet and the scenic view from his living room window. But it was a very different outlook a year ago, as Travis explains:
“I was living in a small flat in Northampton before, but I’d been subjected to hate crime from a small group of people in my street. I kept reporting it and an investigation had started, but the police liaison officer told me my case could take some time to go to court, possibly a year or more.
“In the meantime, I was diagnosed with cancer, then I sadly lost my dad, who’d been living with motor neurone disease. I was having such a tough time and really struggling with it all.
“Due to the extent of my cancer, I had to have surgery, which means I now have a permanent stoma. This was followed by six lots of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiotherapy.
“Whilst I was visiting Northampton hospital for my treatment, I used to pop in to see my mum. I’d help her out by walking her dog and if I wasn’t feeling well enough to go home, I’d stay at hers. I was trying to keep up with my job as a part-time dog-walker, but I was unable to keep all my customers during my illness.
“I thought about what I’d been through and how much stress it was causing me; was it really worth it? I dropped the complaint and asked Grand Union’s lettings team for help in finding me somewhere else to live.
“I couldn’t believe my luck when I was offered this two-bedroomed flat. I can now have friends and family to stay.
“It’s really lovely here, so quiet! Because I have ADHD, I’m really noise sensitive and it causes me pain. There are children in this block, but I don’t hear them at all.
“On days when I’m feeling not so good, I can go for walks in the countryside or down the High Street, which is quiet, not like in town.
“My mental health has certainly improved since I moved here. After my first night sleeping here, I had to email the team to tell them I’d slept like a baby.
“I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. It’s great to have space, peace and time to rest.”
Travis hasn’t always lived in Northamptonshire. Before the pandemic he was living in East Sussex, working for a charity.
“When I was living in Brighton, I used to volunteer for the Terrence Higgins Trust, which raises funds and awareness of HIV/AIDS. My volunteering helped me upskill, and it paved the way into a job as a part-time Outreach worker. I would visit bars in Brighton, offering sexual health support and advice.
“In March 2020, I moved up to Northamptonshire to care for my parents during the pandemic. Because of my dad’s motor neurone disease, I couldn’t live with them as he was clinically extremely vulnerable, so I stayed in their summer house in the garden. I would do their shopping, and shop for other elderly people on their street, and make sure they were okay.
“The summer house was fine in the warmer months, but I knew winter was approaching. I was trying to private rent, but no-one wanted to know as I had debts and CCJs. I found a caravan to rent at Billing Aquadome, which was better than the prospect of having a summer house with no heating in the winter, but I knew I needed something permanent.
“I saw an advert for Grand Union and got in touch. I had no idea they would entertain the idea of renting to someone with CCJs, though of course I had to have a guarantor – a third party willing to pay my rent if I failed to do so.”
“The team have been excellent at keeping me updated throughout the moving process and extremely responsive to my emails, explaining things in detail so I understood.
“I’m very happy and feel that I’ve really been listened to.”
From the many plants in Travis’ flat, it’s evident that he’s got green fingers and is a fan of the outdoors.
“I’ve been lucky to have been able to bring all my lovely plants with me to my new flat, some of which I’ve had for many years. I’ve even started making my own terrariums.
“Nowadays, I spend my time walking or on my allotment, visiting my mum and going on day trips with a friend.
“Moving here has helped me in a huge way; it’s allowed me to be me. I don’t know where I’d be without Grand Union.”
