Alessandra

Alessandra’s journey from Brazil’s psychosocial care system to Single Homeless Project shows how international experience, curiosity and compassion can help transform lives in homelessness services.

What drew you to work at Single Homeless Project?

I love working with people facing multiple disadvantage, and I could see myself in the mission and values of Single Homeless Project. Honestly, I think I fell in love. That’s the best way to describe how I felt when I discovered the charity.

Can you walk me through your career path so far?

I’m a psychologist and a psychoanalyst by training. In Brazil, where I’m from, we have very strong mental health services, and I worked in a psychosocial care centre called CAPS. There, I delivered individual and group therapeutic care, coordinated mental health cases, supervised teams and supported people transitioning from psychiatric hospitals into therapeutic residences. I’m very proud of that work – helping people rebuild a sense of home after long hospital stays.

I’ve continued building on that experience here, bringing the same dedication to mental health and human development into my role here.

What do you enjoy most about working here?

This is a hard question because there’s not just one thing. But if I have to choose, I’d say the possibility of being myself.

At Single Homeless Project, I can be 100% myself – my ideas, my experience, my whole self.

In some organisations, especially in mental health, I felt like I had to fit inside a box – act in a certain way. But here, I feel completely outside the box in the best possible sense. I can bring ideas, think creatively and show up as 100% Alessandra. I’m never embarrassed to share my thoughts or suggestions. That freedom is very special.

What was it like to progress your career at Single Homeless Project?

Progression here has felt natural and supported. Single Homeless Project appreciates experience, passion and new perspectives, and I’ve been encouraged to grow while still being true to myself. 

How do you find the approach to training and career growth?

Single Homeless Project is the best company I’ve worked for in terms of training. I am always impressed. The materials, the coursework, the texts – everything is high quality. And the trainers are amazing.

Coming from another country, with a different culture and a different mental health system, this training has been essential for me. It gives me the knowledge I need to adapt and feel confident. I always learn something new, and the support has helped me find my place here.

What skills or experiences did you gain in your previous role that helped you succeed in your current one?

My experience in Brazil gave me a strong foundation – deep therapeutic work, case coordination, supervision and supporting people with severe mental health conditions. Working in community-based care taught me how to see the whole person and how to help someone rebuild their independence.

Those skills have been essential in my work here, especially in understanding complex needs, building relationships and supporting people with compassion and structure.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself through your career journey here?

I see myself reflected – my values, my passion and my purpose. Working here has helped me realise my own potential. Even with all my experience, I’ve learned more about my capacity, my skills and the way I deal with challenging situations. There is a real synergy between me and Single Homeless Project, and it has helped me grow personally and professionally.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining Single Homeless Project or applying for an internal role?

I would say: if you care deeply about people and want to work in a place where you can be yourself, Single Homeless Project is a wonderful organisation. Bring your passion, your curiosity and your willingness to learn. You will have the space to grow.

What was the biggest challenge in your career at Single Homeless Project?

My biggest challenge has been adapting to a new culture and a different system. When you work with human beings, the foundations are the same everywhere – giving people a voice, treating them with kindness, listening. But each country has its own way of thinking, organising and delivering services.

Learning the UK system, the culture and the way people approach mental health and homelessness has been a big challenge. But Single Homeless Project has helped me learn and understand, and that’s very important for me. I want to see the whole picture so I can offer the best of my knowledge.

What have you learned along the way?

I’ve learned how connected everything is – mental health, housing, justice services, domestic abuse support, charities. It’s like a body: every part has to work together for the whole system to stay healthy. Seeing this has helped me understand my work more deeply and appreciate how complex homelessness in London can be.

What has been a key turning point in your journey?

A key moment for me was joining a domestic abuse group early in my time here. Even though I work primarily with young people, being part of that group and receiving training opened my eyes to another important area of our work. It reminded me of things I used to do in also showed me new ways of approaching it here. It inspired me and made me want to learn even more.

Is there anything we haven’t asked you that you feel like you want to share?

I’d like to share how grateful I am to see how connected the whole system is – Single Homeless Project, the courts, justice services, domestic abuse services, community organisations. Everything works together to support people. It’s incredible to witness, and I feel privileged to be part of it.