Ending the spiral of homelessness

8 August 2022

Justin hopes sharing his story will help others in similar circumstances.

Justin finds support to help him break the cycle

Words Naomi Singlehurst

Justin went from working in management for two of Australia’s best-known companies to years of homelessness – often living rough on the streets and sheltering in doorways for warmth. As Homelessness Week approaches this year (1-7 August), Justin courageously shares his story to help and encourage others.

I’m 44 and from Sydney. I moved around a lot from my 20s, not building many strong relationships. I suffered from mental health issues for most of my life.

I was 13 when I first saw someone about my struggles after my school suggested it.

Despite some challenges, I went on to work in management in two of Australia’s best-known companies and on the surface was doing well. I bought and sold homes, and life felt reasonably successful.

When you are homeless, it is very hard to find a way out without support.

For many years, I managed my mental health issues fairly well until I was bullied by a high-end manager at work. As a result, I started having panic attacks and ended up in hospi-tal. I thought I was having a heart attack, which is how a panic attack feels to me.

SLEEPING ROUGH

I stepped down from management and returned to a simpler role. I later began a 

successful business, employing others, but was heavily self-medicating with increasingly higher doses of alcohol. My depression and anxiety also gained an ever-growing hold on me, and my marriage broke down.

I started couch-surfing at friends’ places but quickly burnt through those friendships because I wasn’t addressing my underlying issues.

At one stage, I moved into a hotel attached to a pub. This wasn’t a smart move, and I quickly drank through my savings.

I moved back in with my family for a short time,but that didn’t work out either. I ended up backin Sydney in a hostel and eventually on the street. By that stage, I was no longer working.

Many nights I had nowhere to stay. I’d just try and find a doorway to keep the wind off. I didn’t sleep that much at night. I’d sleep more during the day in a park or something. It feels a bit safer in the day.

I was also embarrassed. you see people avoiding you. Some people are nice, but others look at you like you’re just a drunk, and that’s how I saw myself.

NEVER-ENDING CYCLE

When I could afford it, I would get a night hereand there in a hostel or motel to clean up a bit.This happened for six months or so until one day I ended up at The Salvation Army’s door. 

I spent three nights in emergency accommodation, before being assessed and offered a more stable room in short-term accommodation, but I soon fell back into drinking, then went to rehab and ended up back in the never-ending cycle. 

But I knew I couldn’t go on the way I was, and so re-contacted my Salvos case manager. We spoke about my drinking, and my depression and anxiety. 

Very quickly, I moved back into the short-term accommodation. This was relatively short lived, as I was accepted into the Together Home* program and I moved into a small apartment where I live today. 

ONGOING CARE 

It was, and is, good having my own space again, but the last COVID-19 lockdown really got to me. We weren’t allowed to go anywhere. I wouldn’t see anyone for weeks. That was hard.

I presented to hospital and was placed in a mental health rehabilitation unit. That gave me the chance to get my medications sorted and work on other strategies.

My case manager from the Salvos visited me weekly. We discussed many things, and I told him I wanted to give back to others because I’d always volunteered, even when I was homeless. So, I started a Certificate 4 in Community Services. I hope to go on to complete the diploma. In the meantime, I am casually employed in a ‘lived experience’ role at the Salvos and help where I can.

Life is looking positive, but I take it one day at a time. I know how quickly I can fall back if I’m not careful.

Without the Salvos services and case managers, I don’t think I could have gotten it together. That support, their reassurance – it has made all the difference. When you are homeless, it is very hard to find a way out without support.

I hope I can now make a difference, even just by sharing my story.

*Together Home is a NSW Government community sector partnership, started in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and managed by Bridge Housing. The Salvation Army, along with Mission Australia and St Vincent de Paul, deliver support services to community members in housing.

For more information, go to salvationarmy.org.au/national-homelessness-week