Peter's story

This is my story as to why I am a happy tenant.

In 1987, due to personal family matters I ended up homeless and living on the streets of London. I was 18, all alone and very scared. I was so glad when the day came when my sister found me and took me back home.

In 2013, I was facing this possibility again. My wife and I were being made homeless, due to our job that came with accommodation coming to an abrupt end.

Luckily Daventry & District Housing (DDH) stepped in and offered us a new build house which we were so grateful, relieved and happy about.

Once in our new house we were approached by the resident involvement officer to see if we would like to volunteer within DDH.

Again we were happy and excited about this as we were made to feel appreciated and part of the DDH family.

I was invited to join the scrutiny panel, which was a very important group within DDH, and my wife joined the Community Project group.

We also attended the rural tenants’ group meetings and the East Midlands tenant participation forum events along with other voluntary days.

We started to feel so appreciated and notice how much DDH involved their tenants. DDH listens to their tenants and wants to know what their tenants want from them.

In July this year I was invited to join the Strive programme. This is an opportunity for tenants to learn all the skills necessary to start their own business.

This was a dream come true for me, as this was something I have wanted to do for a long time. And the timing was perfect having recently qualified as a counsellor and psychotherapist; this was a golden opportunity for me.

If all of this was not enough, I was then invited to apply to sit on a new Insight committee. This was a very big honour for me. I applied, had an interview and was offered the position. I cannot explain how happy I felt.

We have only been tenants for just over two years with DDH, but we have been made to feel very welcome, given many opportunities to get involved, and positively encouraged to exceed in everything.

We have made a lot of new friends, we have socialised more, and are very happy with life.

That is why I am a happy, proud tenant.

Peter Downes, #proudtenant, Daventry & District Housing

#HousingDay is today