For nine years, Mr. P.* lived in a home in a neighbourhood where he had his routines, his bearings — it was his place. But he was in a deeply fragile situation, marked by severe mental health issues and extremely problematic alcohol use.
Over time, his condition deteriorated. The relationship with the teams became strained, interactions grew difficult, and Mr. P. often showed aggression. Then came a particularly painful period: the death of his partner, followed by repeated threats of eviction. This combination was a turning point. Isolation, conflicts with neighbours, severe deterioration of his living space.
After nine years, Mr. P. was evicted.
Faced with this situation, we chose to offer him a new home. With many doubts. Would this simply move the problem elsewhere? Would this change really have an impact? And yet...
As soon as he settled into another town, things began to shift. He took care of his new home, there were no more complaints, no more conflicts. His relationship with the teams softened: he became warm, sometimes even humorous. His alcohol use became much more stable.
But above all: he completed a personal project he had dreamed of for years. In 2025, he published a book he had been working on for a long time. A project that brought him strength, motivation, and meaning.
This journey reminds us of two essential truths
The power of a change of environment, which can open the door to a true fresh start.
And the crucial importance of having a personal project — something that rebuilds self-esteem, provides direction, and anchors a person. For Mr. P., as for many others, having a project is already a step toward healing.
- Louis, housingmanager
A roof, support, a plan: make it happen
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(*) We do our utmost to respect the privacy of our patients and our professional secrecy. However, we want to testify to how they must survive and how we are working together to reintegrate them. As a result, the names of places and people are deliberately omitted or changed and real-life situations are placed in a different context. There is no direct link between the photos and the stories above.