A WOMAN has revealed how she went from living in a homeless shelter to running a successful business.
Jessica Normanton, now 29, became homeless at 16, with no parents to support her.
However, she turned her life around after being adopted and decided to follow her dream of owning her own successful business.
She said: “I literally came to work today and thought: I love my job and I love my life so much.
“If only I could go back and tell 16-year-old Jess, who lives in that homeless shelter and cries herself to sleep almost every night, that she’s going to be okay.”
As a teenager, Jessica became homeless due to circumstances beyond her control, with no clothes, food, or roof over her head.
Before that, she lived in an unsafe environment, where she sat in the dark, with only a candle to light the room.
However, when Jessica was privately adopted, things began to change for her as she decided to take a risk and pursue her dreams.
Since then, she has managed to open her own Brazilian waxing shop, which, according to her, has been very successful.
Jéssica said: “The first house I lived in alone when I was 16, there was no floor, no bed, there was nothing in this house.
“It was so bad that one of my neighbors I looked out my window and realized that I only had concrete on the floor and she donated some carpeting to me.
Sharing advice to others, she said: “If you want to do something, but you’re really scared, and it’s a little risky and a little scary for you to put yourself in that environment, just do it.
“Just do it because I can tell you right now, you’re going to sit and look and think, I’m so glad I did that, I’m so glad I took that risk.
“I went from being homeless to now running a business that I love.
“I love my work. I never get up and think, I need to go to work, and I’m not even just saying that, I really do.
What to do if you become homeless
In England, your council must help if you are legally homeless or become homeless in the next 8 weeks.
You may be legally homeless if:
- you do not have the legal right to live in accommodation anywhere in the world
- you cannot enter your home, for example your landlord has locked you out
- it is unreasonable to stay at home, for example you are at risk of violence or abuse
- you are forced to live away from your family or people you normally live with because there is no suitable accommodation for you
- you are living in very precarious conditions, such as overcrowding
There are different types of support that your council can offer you. For example, they may offer you advice, emergency accommodation, support in finding long-term accommodation or help so you can stay at home.
If you are looking for advice you can contact a housing charity Shelter for advice, Legal Advice for Citizens for legal assistance and speak to your Local council for help.
“I am very grateful to everyone who supports me and to all the customers who walk through this door.
“The old Jess lives inside me and every day she gives thanks for the life I have now.”
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