While a small percentage of homeless people sleeping on the streets, under a bridge or at a park, the larger group of homeless people are women escaping abusive partners or family members, youth that can't live at home anymore, people experiencing high rent prices and discrimination, loss of employment and people affected by mental health issues.
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Grampians Community Health's Homelessness and Family Violence Team in this last financial year serviced 426 people in this region. Polling of the people seeking support from specialist homelessness services shows Family Violence 23%, financial difficulties 16%, housing affordability 15% and inadequate and inappropriate dwellings 11%.
This is Briana's (17) story. When my Mum and Dad broke up things were hard. Mum and I fought a lot, so I went to stay with Dad. It wasn't long until Dad and I started fighting too. They gave me the choice of behaving or leaving. So I left. I stayed at my friends' houses, moving constantly. Every morning I would wake up not knowing where I'd sleep that night. Eventually, I lost contact with my friends. I was all alone. It was hard to go to school. Each day felt like a fight for survival. One day, someone told me about this homelessness service in Ararat through Grampians Community Health. They gave me a support worker. They helped me get back to school and catch up on what I'd missed. Mum and I talk now, things are getting better. I want to go to University to study social work - so I can help teenagers like me.
There is an opportunity for all community members to assist the homeless community. It could simply be donating blankets or warm clothing, being mindful of the differences and struggles, or knowing the homelessness support line 1800 825 955.
