Struggling

When I arrived at the council building there was a large fence towering above me. Builders worked by the front doors, so I had to find another entrance. As I walked inside, there were no sign posts, no one to ask for directions. I began the day feeling optimistic but it was not to last.

After several minutes I asked one of the 'official' ladies who watched me stand awkwardly in front of her, who then informed me that I was in the wrong area of the building and had to go left, inside a large hall full of colours and people. Inside the hall there were several desks, machines, circular see-through offices standing in the middle, a café, posters and chairs scattered around the place unordinarly.

It was strange that Bath council, the place where I were to ask for financal help, was to represent my situation in such a terrifyingly realisitic way. There were several voices in the background which disorienated my surroundings and no obvious point or reception to ask who to talk to. I stood nervously, trying to pinpoint what exactly I needed to do, but the only information I recieved from friends and my career consultant was that 'the council could help'. And so I stood and watched the circus before me. Slowly, the despair I had been feeling for the last few weeks began to reboil in my blood. Just as I was about to turn around a lady said something to me, but I couldn't understand her. She walked to another person and left me with them, who asked what I needed.

This lady was far easier to talk to, and she recommended I talk to the Citizens Advice Bureau. She told me to 'take a seat' which I found a little funny as there were small groups of seats everywhere and I had no idea which seats she meant. I guessed and waited my turn.

Cutting the story short, I eventually met a lady from the CAB who was very helpful and kind. She listened to my situation and pinpointed me to to talk to housing benefits, knowing that I had no where to live. She also said I might be able to get a list of landlords from them, but when we asked a lady together she did not want to help and seemed to think it was ridiculous that we were to even ask her. The lady we talked to together said there was absolutely no chance in getting a council house/flat/etc, then complained about how busy she was and how understaffed it was today. I moved on to another section of the hall and the staff wrote on the paper what housing benefits I might be entitled to. Only, she would only know for sure when I were renting.

Then I saw a good friend, and the despair went away for a little while again.