Like many young people, Moa* expresses herself through fashion, especially through her incredible nail artwork. More like miniature sculptures, her creativity shines through in her intricate acrylic nail work. A cinnamon roll, a cat, a bowl of grapes – all bright and colourful, just like she is!
Moa shares, “I can do different artwork. Make things from my mind and create anything I want. People think it’s really cool. They tell me that they believe in me and I have really good talent, which makes me feel pretty proud.”
Speaking confidently and proudly, Moa is spending time with us after moving into her first sharehouse through the SPin (Support People in) Housing Program, a transitional housing program for young people aged 16-25 years.
Delivered in partnership with the Department of Housing and Public Works, inCommunity Connect team provides regular case management to support young people in their SPin tenancy, alongside the Churches of Christ Housing Services team, who provide property management.
After interviews with both SPin teams, Moa secured a room in her new home and has been enjoying this next phase of her journey to stable housing.
She says, “I was really grateful for this opportunity. It helps you feel better about yourself. I have two flatmates, and they’re very kind. I’ve loved decorating my room and settling in with the furniture I received from the Youth Housing Essentials Project, which has ensured I have all the basics I need for living independently such as a bed and desk.”
With her main goals of continuing her Year 11 studies, including a range of beauty-related subjects, plus getting her P-Plates, Moa has a clear focus for what lies ahead. But she is also very candid about why spending time each week with an inCommunity Connect Case Manager is still so important to her during this next phase.
She says, “Having a case manager is definitely a huge help, and I do appreciate it. After all, I’m still a kid.”
Spending Time at Hargreaves House
Rewind to 8 months ago, and Moa opened up to a school counsellor about what was going on for her outside of school. Recognising she needed immediate support to find alternative housing, Moa was quickly connected via another local service to inCommunity Connect’s 24-hour youth crisis accommodation, Hargreaves House, where a room had become available.
She shares, “I was very nervous when I first arrived. It was nice and not at all what I’m used to. Everyone was very welcoming, and the case managers were very kind and respectful. I was told that the other young people were excited to meet me, and they were! I was very scared about meeting new people, but they were all very talkative, trying to get to know me and bring me out of my shell.”
From such a tentative starting point to the self-assured confidence she now has, Moa explains how practical goal-setting, coupled with ongoing support from the live-in case managers, helped her make this positive transformation.
“When I first arrived, we sat down and did all the paperwork. We talked about the goals I wanted to achieve. We also worked through getting into a lot of routines from the start, which was really good.
Doing chores, staying on top of hygiene, making everything look nice. We also cooked for the house once a week, which I liked a lot. Cooking different things and having everyone thank you and say it was yummy always felt good.
Another goal and probably my main goal was getting on top of my health. This was really important to me, and the case managers sometimes attended appointments with me if I wanted them to. They helped explain some of what I was experiencing to the doctors. I found their advocacy for me in that space was really helpful.”
The stability of having 24-hour access to live-in case managers Moa could chat with openly became another factor, motivating her to pursue this next stage of independent living.
She shares, “When you’re living at Hargreaves House, they just cheer you on. They’re really good at helping you feel comfortable and motivated to look after yourself. My confidence definitely grew. Now I can explain things to people without getting nervous. I can go to appointments alone, and I’m speaking up for myself a little more too.”
Learning practical skills for renting
With confidence growing and the possibility of securing a room within the SPin program on the horizon, another useful part of the case management process Moa recognised was completing the Tenancy Skills Institute’s Skillsets for Successful Tenancies Course.
“The course gives you a lot more experience for when you move out and what you have to do as a tenant. It makes you realise how serious signing a lease is, and what to do when you move in and when you leave the tenancy. Take photos when you first arrive, and explain what to do if there is an issue, including how you can raise it with the property manager. Definitely some good skills for me that I can use in my new sharehouse.”
Setting Moa up for successful renting as a first-time tenant, while laying a solid foundation for any future tenancies she may enter down the track.
The future: new goals and new adventures
“No one ever knows where they’re going to be in 10 years”, Moa says, “but I know it’s going to be an adventure. I’ll hopefully have a really good house, earn good money for what I’m doing and create my own business. Basically, having good people around me will be the best thing.”
With such an obvious talent for nail art and a passion for other beauty areas such as hair and skin care, Moa’s love for bright colours and creativity seems destined for the beauty industry.
For now though, she is focused on the here and now of school life. But how she has got to this point is markedly different, and it’s a path she recognises could inspire another young person who may be at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness.
Gently reflecting on this, Moa shares what she would tell other young people with experiences like hers. “If you seek help, it will get so much better. You can work yourself up to love yourself. You can get a job, and it’s so much better for yourself. It genuinely makes you feel better.”
A final gem of wisdom and a bright touchpoint to help another young person on their pathway to stable housing. Thank you, Moa; you truly are inspiring!
*Name de-identified.
