A YOUNG mother who suffered severe post-natal depression has credited a homeless charity with saving her life and has hit out at government cuts to the 'lifeline' service.
Claire Meehan (20), from Derry, and her partner Thomas Doherty were given a place in Shepherd's View, a supported living project for young homeless people in the city, four years ago when she became pregnant.
"We had nowhere to go and things went downhill very badly when I developed severe depression after my first child. I didn't want to leave the flat. My key worker kept me on the right track and got me to the doctor's and ensured I took my medication," the mother-of-three said.
"Without that person here I could have took a very different road in life, with drink or drugs. I certainly would have lost my children. I don't think I would be alive today."
The initiative, which provides 16 self-contained flats for teenage homeless parents and their children - as well as parents up to the age of 25 - was hit earlier this year with a five per cent funding cut by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Many of those living in Shepherd's View were previously in the care system or battled addiction problems.
The impact of the cut - which applied to all supported living projects across Northern Ireland - was the loss of Ms Meehan's support worker and the downgrading of many of the activities such as development programmes, from healthy eating to educational talks on alcohol awareness.
"They taught me and Thomas how to cook as well as courses on children's first aid. People also came in and gave talks on drink and drugs - they taught me stuff I never knew. There is a fantastic crèche facility and they were giving me opportunities to take courses to educate myself - but now all that's been cut back," added Ms Meehan.
Niall McCarroll, the deputy manager at Shepherd's View who has more than 20 years experience in the social care sector, said the downgrading of the service was impacting on severely vulnerable people.
"These young people are among some of the most disenfranchised in our society and we are trying to make their lives better," he said.
"This particular enforced change to our services has left them feeling let down - what sort of message does this funding cut present to homeless and marginalised individuals and their families?"
A spokesman for the Housing Executive confirmed the reduction in 'Supporting People' funding for this financial year and said they recognised it was impacting on the vulnerable.
"While the baseline budget has been protected at £72.8m, there are a number of continued inescapable financial commitments which need to be met," he said.
"We are very mindful that users of Supporting People funded services are some of the most vulnerable in society and we will continue to work with...providers in respect of the long term sustainability of services."
