Sleeping Rough
About five years ago, after the breakdown of a long-term marriage with a blended family of six children, Christian found himself on his own.
At first, extended family members took him in, and he was able to couch surf for a while. But by his own admission, he wasn’t communicating well at the time, and their generous hospitality soon wore out. Sadly, at this point, Christian’s disconnection from his loved ones deepened, and with no other options, Christian began sleeping rough for what would become the best part of a five-year journey on the streets.
“At first, I stayed in my car, but I kept getting moved on by police and security. I understood why, but it wasn’t easy. I would try to find a new place that was well-lit for safety. Then I obtained a tent, and from there it got worse.”
In those first few years, he was alone before his 17-year-old son joined him a couple of years later. Christian says, “He was determined to stick with me. We looked after each other and felt safe in pairs.”
Safety was something that weighed heavily on Christian’s mind during those years of sleeping rough. Christian thoughtfully reflects that this exacerbated his already anxious disposition, developed during his childhood, which in turn made it difficult for him to ask for support.
“I’ve always struggled with being anxious, and I would worry that it would come across that I was telling fibs. I knew I could always show cause, but something stopped me. I could never really build myself up with confidence to approach and ask for help,” he shares.
Compounding these barriers further was his awareness of his personal presentation at the time. With a lack of access to a shower and personal hygiene items, Christian’s discomfort grew enormously over the years.
He shares, “I had to rely on others for a shower, but we couldn’t do that every day. I bought baby wipes to keep clean. Even under a cold tap in the middle of winter, it was freezing, but you had to do it. We had some pretty poor experiences.”
With such scarcity and with the barriers mentioned above closing in on them, Christian and his son also struggled to access food and other essentials.
It was during this time that Christian first made contact with inCommunity Connect. This conversation, in turn, sparked inCommunity Connect to make contact with the local church near where he and his son were sleeping. A connection that led to the church providing Christian and his son with much-needed blankets, clothing and tinned food.
“inCommunity Connect advocated for me and told the church my situation. It meant we only had to meet up and explain a couple of things, which was really helpful.” Christian shares.
This first interaction with inCommunity Connect also gave him the courage to make the second call, and that’s when Christian came in for an initial meeting with inCommunity Connect’s Intake and Assessment Case Manager.
“I was assigned my Case Manager, and things got better.”
Christian shares his first in-person meeting for an intake interview with the inCommunity Connect team, “I felt relaxed and in the right place and doing the right thing. That was comforting.”
Following this meeting, Christian was assigned a Case Manager for himself and his son, their first meeting occurring outside a local bakery near the park where they lived. It was there that they discussed what is offered via the Immediate Housing Response Program, funded by the Department of Housing and Public Works, and completed some of the basic paperwork, including consent forms.
With the preliminary paperwork in place, Christian’s Case Manager set to work calling around hotels to secure immediate accommodation for Christian and his son.
Immediate Housing Response Program
Being offered motel accommodation via the Immediate Housing Response Program (IHR Program) for Christian and his son was a full stop to what had seemed like an unending period of complexities and uncertainties. And the relief for him was immediate.
Christian’s gratitude for the IHR Program is palpable, “Comforting and secure. It was a welcome change. Having a clean bed and a shower so I could take care of my personal hygiene was immense. Being able to eat more than just out of tins and packets. We had a microwave, and our Case Manager got us an air fryer pretty quickly. It opened up the menu. We loved it and we still love that air fryer!”.
Renewed Confidence
“I was struggling to be able to read and see long distances without things being blurry, and it was beginning to cause me severe headaches regularly with straining to see. Much to my delight, my Case Manager expressed concern and took me to an optometrist to get an eye screening and to get prescription glasses.” Christian says.
Practical goals like this are part of Christian’s weekly meetings with his Case Manager. Meetings that also serve as a stable touchpoint for Christian as he moves forward toward his long-term goal of securing stable housing. Removing barriers, practical and less visible, that may prevent his progress is what Christian focuses on, and with every new goal he achieves, his once fragile confidence is growing.
“It’s given me a lot of confidence back in the community and an understanding of the services available. Until I met my Case Manager, I didn’t think it was going to be accessible. The help has been outstanding, it’s made a big difference to me – my confidence, self-esteem, everything.” Christian says.
Getting his new glasses also demonstrates how achieving one goal leads to the next. Now with a desire to get back into reading books, he and his Case Manager set off to the local library, where Christian is now a member.
“I’ve actually been back to the library on my own, returned the book and picked up another. I like a little bit of history, non-fiction books,” he shares.
Reflecting on his renewed confidence, Christian also shares, “With my anxiety, I have found it hard to go and approach things like that, but now I’ll have a go. I’ve even been to the outdoor gym at the local park!”
And it is with this positive mindset that Christian has achieved one of his most significant milestones during this time: reconnecting with his family.
He shares, “I love seeing my Mum again. My Mum loves it too, and I’m very close to her. My family has seen the change in me. To do this, it’s really helped being able to talk to my Case Manager. I can be open with him; it’s a non-judgmental space, which has made a big difference. It’s helped me be open with my family, too.”
Building Momentum
When we meet, Christian and his Case Manager are preparing to attend an initial meeting with the Department of Housing branch in an area close to where his Mum lives. A chance for Christian to meet with them to discuss the areas and type of housing he is working towards securing for himself and his son, including living close to his Mum.
It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate Christian’s recent rental history. Since joining the Immediate Housing Response Program, Christian has been co-contributing to his accommodation, allowing him to demonstrate his ability to meet regular rental payments on time, every time. Vital after such a long period of sleeping rough.
“I’m good with budgeting and getting better and better. The cupboards are almost full of food, and there’s food in the freezer. Knowing you’re on top of paying bills, and also sharing these skills with my son. I encourage him to help me wash up, and he’s giving cooking a go!” Christian says proudly.
As Christian and his Case Manager get set to head off to this important meeting, he generously shares what this moment feels like:
“It’s a step closer to having the security, a more permanent stability. It’s encouraging really. At the same time, I’m glad my Case Manager is there with me, as it’s a bit daunting. He’s made an enormous difference to me. Every time I talk to him, I feel a smile and become more confident about things. That things are doable and possible. It’s a big positive.”
And on this note, Christian departs for this important meeting. Quietly self-assured and focused on working towards achieving his long-term goal of securing a new home for himself and his son. A goal that, with every new achievement, he is confidently moving closer towards.
