Georgia’s story: support when sudden unemployment made mortgage payments a worry

Dorset, England

Georgia was referred to Lightning Reach by SNG, and received the following from a national charity:

• £1,000 towards housing costs, and £600 towards food and essentials.

• Funding to pay for a house survey, allowing her to put her home on the market.

“I lost my job recently which sent me into a bit of a spiral. The support I received gave me a month’s breather to focus on myself and not on the bills.”

We spoke with Georgia, who recently needed support after facing unemployment due to mental health problems. Living in a shared ownership property meant she had to pay both rent and mortgage. When Georgia lost her income, it added to the pressure of monthly bills and mortgage payments. Unable to work, she struggled to afford everyday essentials, including food. Georgia had no previous experience of seeking support and didn’t know where to turn for help.

“I was really clueless. I’ve never had to use this kind of service before. I didn’t know how I was going to manage paying any bills or mortgage.”

Finding support through sudden unemployment and mortgage worries

Georgia’s breakthrough moment came when her housing provider, SNG, referred her to Lightning Reach to find support. She initially felt hesitant about signing up, as she thought she was “not going to be able to get anything from it”. What changed her mind was reading real-life stories from others in similar situations, and it gave her a push to apply. Through Lightning Reach, Georgia successfully applied for support from a national charity and received a response within a short span of time. 

“I had an email with a debrief of everything that they could offer. It was mindblowing.”

The charity provided £1,000 towards her rent and mortgage, as well as £600 towards food and essentials. They also supported a payment for a house survey so Georgia could put her home on the market.

“I can't even explain to you the pressure the support took off me. Not having to worry about going into debt, that just really saved me.”

Finding light to support mental wellbeing

The support has given her time and space to focus on her wellbeing. With her immediate mortgage worries eased, Georgia was finally able to breathe again. She now encourages anyone who may be experiencing financial difficulties to seek help without any hesitation.

“I'm definitely getting there, as there's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel to kind of where I could go.”

Get help today

Could you or someone you know use a helping hand building up your financial resilience? Create your account today at www.lightningreach.org/application-portal to see what you're eligible for.