Case Study

From tent to tenant: Finding Khalif somewhere to go home to

2 Aug 2024

Landing back at square one has been a recurring theme in Khalif’s life. Facing mental health problems, brushes with the law and repeated homelessness since being discharged from the army, the young father admits there were times when he was ‘really, really low.’ Luckily for him, he says, a call from Ingeus while living in a tent on the side of a canal changed all that. 

Born in Zimbabwe, Khalif learnt to be independent and resilient from an early age. After his father died when he was nine, he lived alone until, age 13, his mum brought him over to live in London: “You talk different, you sound different, I had to toughen up real quick. It was a culture shock,” he says. 

By the time he was 17, his behaviour led to a police caution and, at the suggestion of his solicitor, a stint as an infantry soldier in the British Army. Seven years later the toll of active duty saw him diagnosed with bipolar disorder, sectioned, and discharged. 

Back to square one. 

Life as a veteran proved to be a downward cycle as Khalif turned to crime and lockdown drinking. An assault charge resulted in remand at HMP Bullingdon in Oxfordshire, followed by a two-year suspended sentence, alone, and in temporary, unstable accommodation. 

Back to square one again. 

Brushes with the law continued and following a driving offence, Khalif was again detained on remand. Once released he says ‘I've got nothing, I'm back to square one again. I was literally living in a tent.’ 

His luck changed when Andy, an accommodation advisor for Ingeus South Central, tracked him down after meeting him while on remand. Ingeus’ accommodation service supports people in custody, sentenced or unsentenced, to find or retain stable accommodation as part of the Ministry of Justice’s Commissioned Rehabilitative Services.    

Andy says: “It was just my plan at that point to try and get him somewhere, so he wasn't in the tent that night. He had no food, he had no money, he had absolutely nothing. 

“Knowing that he was an ex-serviceman, I made a few phone calls to the Royal British Legion and Veterans Aid and within an hour he was in a hotel. The plan from there was to look at what support was available for him. He was helping out at a gym in Bicester, doing some personal training stuff there and he found out that somebody had a room available in a shared house. We supported him in contacting the landlord and once he was set up there, managed to get him some clothing, some bedding, a TV.” 

Khalif seized the opportunity he’d been given and devoted his time to training and prioritising his mental health. It was months later that Khalif this time made welcome contact with Andy. He emailed to say he was living in London and doing well, studying for a personal training qualification – again with the support of Ingeus.   

As part of the Restart Scheme, which helps unemployed people into training and work, Khalif has now completed levels two and three of a Personal Training Diploma.  

“Things have stabilised,” adds Khalif with a smile. “I've got my own flat. I can train, I can eat well. 

“I got blessed, I got Andy willing to go above and beyond for me. Without him I wouldn't be here where I’m stood today. I can't lie to you, there were times I was really, really low. He sat me down, gave me food, helped me. I can’t thank Andy enough for all the help he's given me.”  

Andy too is delighted: “I'm just really proud of where he is and what he's doing and how his life is going now. So it's all positive for him. It's a really good outcome.”