I left school after grade 7, and I barely attended in grade 6. School wasn’t a great experience for me, and I didn’t get much support, which made learning hard. I lived at home with my mum and siblings, but one day, my mum left us for good. We were left to fend for ourselves in her social housing house. Since the house was in her name, we were told we had to leave, which made us homeless.
My partner, who was pregnant with our first child, and I initially couch-surfed. My partner, also 19, had limited family or social support and was put in jail for fare evasion while she was pregnant. Our baby was born just four months after she got out.
I was forced to sleep rough in places like Surfers Paradise, King George Square, and public parks. Sometimes, my partner and baby daughter would join me, and we would all sleep rough together for a night or two. The stress of nowhere to live and not much money eventually broke our relationship.
I get emotional when I remember the desperate measures I took for safety. I slept in council public toilets because I could lock myself in. To survive, I covered the bathroom floor with toilet paper to avoid the filth and wrapped myself in toilet paper to keep warm. This memory brings back a lot of pain. During the night, people would yell at me, council workers would spray water next to me, bang on the door, and run broom handles along the mesh fencing to make me leave. It was dirty, terrifying, and freezing, but at least I could lock the door and feel somewhat safe. I was homeless for about three years, sleeping in toilets, elevators, under bridges, and in dark parks.
These memories bring back a lot of shame, but it was all I could do to survive the circumstances I was faced with.
I was advised to go to Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) after being discharged from the hospital into homelessness. The first time I went to BYS, I was connected with Ollie. He arranged backpacker and hotel accommodation for me when possible. I experienced homelessness during tough times like the initial COVID outbreak and the Brisbane floods in February 2022, so accommodation options were limited, but Ollie helped as much as he could.
BYS always felt like a safe place. I knew I was getting help. Sometimes my distress would make me lose my temper with Ollie, but I knew I was always welcome back. I felt respected by Ollie and built a strong bond with him. I also worked with Awhina, who I speak highly of. I’m grateful to BYS and Ollie for all the support I’ve received over the years.
Ollie helped me with housing. When I went to the Department of Housing (DOH) they didn’t explain the process, so I didn’t know what to do. I returned to the HUB and told Ollie what had happened, and he went to DOH with me to provide support and advocate for me. Eventually, after a lot of work, I got housing.
Through BYS, I worked with Kate from LawRight to reduce my SPER debt from $12,000 to $7,000. The turning point for me was going to the GP clinic and meeting Dr. Chris and Nurse Karren, who helped me get my mental health on track. This made me feel more positive and gave me the motivation to make life changes.
I’m working with Denise, who supports my needs around substance use, and a trainer 1-on-1. I enjoy working with Denise and the trainer. I’ve achieved great things like stopping substances, reducing my drinking, and improving my mental health.
Now, life looks much better. I feel more confident and positive. If I come into BYS and have a yarn with Karren and Denise, my worries go away, and the darkness lifts. I have hope for the future. I want to keep going to the gym, look for work, and maybe even do some study. I fondly remember working in hospitality in Cairns and Townsville, where I flourished, and I’d like to get back to working in that area. My passion is making music and one day I would love to work in that industry.