Young homeless neurodivergent people ‘failed’ by services – claim

“It was like a mountain, I didn’t know where to start,” said Steven Lewkowicz.

He faced eviction after leaving university and being left with no income and no other support.

The 25-year-old, who has ADHD and has struggled with his mental health since his teens, said trying to navigate the systems designed to help felt impossible.

“Phone calls, emails, text messages have always been really big trouble for me.

“I don’t know why but it makes my anxiety go into overdrive. I’m like, ‘what wording do I use? Is it OK for me to send it?’

“It’s just endless amounts of anxiety,” he added.

The former student said he was lucky he was able to access support from the homelessness charity, Llamau.

Someone would remind him of appointments or go with him, which made “the whole process easier”.

Steven said some buildings where support services are accessed “may look big, beautiful and grand”, but to many neurodivergent people “that environment, that’s anxiety, it’s daunting”.

“It’s big, you feel like an ant out of place, whereas if there was an option to have a smaller room [that might help].”

He is now living in different accommodation and wants to use his experiences to help others

“There’s some fantastic people who have got me that support, which has then allowed me to luckily not have to be on the streets.

“But that’s the issue, it was luck, and it shouldn’t be based on luck,” he said.