Mr V.* is a patient we have been following for several years, first in the street, then in housing. He is a very charming gentleman, with his heart on his hand.

For several months now, even before the crisis at Covid-19 started, he has been taking in friends from the street in his small flat.

One thing led to another and they brought their things and settled in. They spent the period of confinement together.

Even though on the one hand he felt less alone and was able to help out, this situation brought with it its share of problems: noise, theft, neighbourhood problems, violence, alcoholism.

It also slowed down his efforts to get back to a normal life. His drinking began to pick up again as he began to manage it.

Aware that his home could be taken away and that his health was beginning to decline, he wanted to solve the problem, knowing that it would be very complicated to get his 'roommates' to leave.

The desire to resume a healthy relationship with his son was a great motivation for him.

He took his courage in both hands and had an interview for admission to the spa. He has been accepted and will be able to leave his flat temporarily to be monitored.

In the meantime, he will give us his keys so that no one will come and squat in his flat.

(*) We make every effort to respect the privacy of our patients and our professional secrecy. Nevertheless, we want to bear witness to the way in which they must survive and the way in which we work together to reintegrate them. Consequently, the names of places and people are deliberately omitted or changed and real-life situations are placed in another context. There is no direct link between the photos and the stories above.

© P-Y Jortay - Street Nurses 2020