As a horrified and homeless Kat discovers she’s unwittingly been squatting at No. 43 Albert Square, what can Alfie do to make amends for yet another plan that’s gone up in smoke? In the cliff-hanger of tonight’s episode (11th November 2014), the Moons returned ‘home’ to find all of their possessions out on the street.
Homelessness is, of course, a devastating and traumatic experience for any family to go through. But help is at hand for those who need it.
“We speak to families every day who are going through the trauma of losing their home, and are here to make sure that no-one has to fight this battle on their own,” revealed Nadeem Khan, a helpline adviser at housing and homelessness charity Shelter.
“People think of homelessness as those living on the streets, but the reality is often that just one piece of bad luck - like a sudden job loss or relationship breakdown - can be all it takes to tip a family into a spiral that ends in homelessness. In Alfie’s case he is clearly a man down on his luck who loses his job and, when on the brink of losing his home too, makes the wrong choices in utter desperation.
Shelter have been advising the EastEnders story team on aspects of Kat and Alfie’s situation, which is set to escalate over the coming weeks.
“Although he took this to the extreme, it’s all too common for people to feel that they have nowhere to turn,” Nadeem continued. “However, seeking expert advice straight away can be the difference between losing your home and keeping it.”
“My message to anyone struggling with bad housing, or the threat of homelessness, is that you are not alone. Organisations like Shelter can provide free, independent advice to help people understand what their legal options are, and give them the best chance of a stable, safe and decent home.”
Shelter helps over three million people a year with housing problems, through online, phone and face to face advice. You can find out more about the work they do - and how you can access help - at www.shelter.org.uk. For a full list of support organisations, visit the ‘Housing and Homelessness’ section of our Help and Information Database.
So what’s next for Kat and Alfie in their struggle to keep a roof over their family’s heads? Stay tuned to see if Alfie finally confesses to Kat and seeks the help they need - or continues on his destructive path.
