When we had a call from Albert's mother saying that he was due to be evicted within two weeks for non-payment of rent, we wondered what Albert would be like.
We now know that he is agoraphobic. His rent had been delayed by the Local Authority, as sometimes happens. He had a wife and three lovely children but he had found it impossible to deal with the Local Authority in the way he should do. So, as the rent had been late and no top up had been made, and as his landlord had only had a few properties to rent out and this was his livelihood, the landlord could do no more than evict the couple. So it was that they approached us.
At that moment in time, we had nothing coming available for a fortnight so the local authority agreed to put them into a hostel for ten days, basically a bedroom and shared facilities. The council had offered them a place in a neighbouring town, but they were reluctant to leave the area having heard from a number of others who had found that there they felt themselves outsiders, and had been treated badly.
The best we could offer Albert and three children was a two-bedroom flat in one of our larger houses. Having said that, it is a beautiful flat with a lounge that is some 30ft long by 15ft. It is one of the biggest lounges we have in our properties.
Ten days later we were able to hand Albert the keys to the front door of their new home. Situated on the ground floor, the flat has access straight into the huge and beautiful back garden - perhaps 150ft long by the same wide - big enough for a tennis court!
We promised that we would look for a three-bedroom house for them, but after four months they said that they loved the place so much and felt that this was now their home, and they asked if they could stay.
It has been great to watch the improvement in the family, the way the children are, and the fact that Albert is now venturing out again. He would love to start work and his wife seems more happy and contented. They all relate well to the others in the house, too. At this moment in time there is a great deal of harmony within the home and within the whole building.
What a joy it is to be able to look after somebody who is broken in this way and begin to see the improvements, because surely that is what is happening. We just thank God for every soul like this that comes to us and is able to find some peace and refuge in one of Green Pastures' properties.
Read some of their stories as recounted by Pastor Pete Cunningham, director of Green Pastures.