Jessica’s Story
‘Jessica’ is from a culturally and linguistically diverse background and arrived in Australia from Africa as a refugee. Many years before arriving in Australia on a humanitarian refugee visa, Jessica’s parents were killed in the war in Africa when she was only 10 years old . She was then separated from her sister whilst fleeing in the war resulting in Jessica being displaced from her home and being placed in a refugee camp for 10 years, trying to cope with the grief and loss of her family and the experience of witnessing the horrors of war. These experiences resulted in an enormous amount of trauma being experienced with ongoing and long lasting effects.
She first accessed Othila’s facing homelessness, not just herself, but with her children. When she first contacted Othila’s she had just given birth to her third child, referring to us from the maternity hospital and facing the prospect of being homeless with her newborn baby and her two children, potentially having no option but the street. Othila’s was able to offer the young woman temporary transitional housing in one of our properties.
While being housed with Othila’s Jessica engaged in support with a Support and Sustaining Tenancies Worker. This support journey is based in developing a strong and trusting case management relationship, that offered assistance with walking alongside the young woman to exploring and guide the development of independent living skills, parenting support, linkages with relevant health care providers (both to assist overcoming the experience of trauma but also for a significant back injury which occurred during the war), assistance with child support and Centrelink matters and emotional support and counselling. Alongside her Othila’s worker, Jessica sourced a range of supports, who worked from a culturally appropriate place, to help begin to get everything ‘back on track’.
However, with the impending thought of potential homelessness, exacerbated anxiety for the young woman and increased her risk of depression, at times becoming debilitating.
Jessica then discovered she was pregnant again. Othila’s housing, while adequate for 3 children, was too small for another child. Like any woman who is pregnant, knowing where you are going to live during and after pregnancy is crucial to feeling safe and secure. The stress of uncertainty was taking its toll.
However Jessica is a resilient young woman. With intensive and consistent advocacy to Department of Housing (this process took over 12 months) Jessica was housed by the Department of Housing (which means long term housing) two days before she delivered her fourth baby. The house is near support networks, children’s school and meets young woman’s medical needs.
Othila’s (from her Support and Sustaining Tenancies Worker to the entire team) are so pleased for Jessica and were humbled to walk alongside Jessica towards independence. It is delightful to see Jessica’s family settled and able to continue on like any other family in our community. Best of luck Jessica!
Emily’s Story
I first encountered homelessness after being kicked out of my mum’s home at age eleven. I didn’t know where to go or who to ask about finding a place to live. I found a shelter in the phone book but wasn’t able to access their service because I was too young and the Department of Child Safety said I had other options and refused to place me. I ended up sleeping in the local park and couch surfing for a period of time before going home and being kicked out again.
Throughout my teenage years, even though I was under the care and protection of Child Safety, I faced homelessness numerous times, living on the streets, sleeping at friends’ places and staying in the majority of shelters in the Brisbane and Ipswich areas.
With all the instability in housing my education, friendships, mental health, community connections and income were all effected which contributed to losing accommodation or not being eligible for support.
Without a regular income, housing options became very limited, at times leaving me with no other option but to sleep with men for a place to stay. In the shelters I met some people, who introduced me to groups of other young people living on the street so that if I ever returned I could connect with them and be protected, the theory being ‘protected in numbers’…
When I did return to the streets the people I met welcomed me, but it was at a cost; I had to steal for the group, any money I had was spent on drugs and alcohol and food was scarce. My days consisted of surviving, living in the moment without any future plans or goals and doing everything I could to remain safe. I was moving further away from who I wanted to be and what I wanted in life and became miserable. Life became very complicated, and other issues presented all stemming from a lack of support and unstable housing.
Turning 18 bought even more barriers to finding accommodation as majority of shelters didn’t provide support for people over 18 and there were limited organisations available for short term accommodation and long waiting lists for medium and long term housing.
Over the past two years I have moved 14 times, but recently was given the opportunity to be housed and supported by Othila’s. For the first time in my life, I am in safe, secure and appropriate housing that will allow me to look after myself, work through my issues, plan for my future and reach my goals!