A lifeline and a goal With the cost of living escalating, times continue to get tougher for people living on the margins, particularly those unable to sustain suitable housing, let alone afford heating bills over winter. As the cold weather settles in, a warm community and a hot meal are helping to see people through. For Marty*, HopeStreet Port Kembla has been a lifeline during a hard time, having experienced physical and emotional trauma since his divorce many years ago. An electrician by trade, Marty's experiences and regional location have limited his employment opportunities. “I’ve gone from owning five houses in my life to ending up with nothing. I’m not trying to be sour about it, but that’s where HopeStreet has been coming in to help,” said Marty. “They support me with a place to go. Shoes, clothes, food, help with legal matters and housing, they even helped me with some bills at one stage,” said Marty. hopestreet.org.au
“I like coming here. The atmosphere is good. The people are good. It’s good for a number of people, it’s not just me. It helps a lot of people here and I see it in other people’s faces. I’d probably be on the street looking for something if I didn’t have HopeStreet.” Marty has been recovering from a couple of failed hernia operations some years ago and is trying to gain a disability pension. “It’s been tough. I’ve got enough education behind me to start a job. I just need to find something that’s not too hard on my body. I feel the aches and pains all the time.” Due to lack of income, housing options are limited. Our HopeStreet team walks beside Marty to help him navigate affordable accommodation. “I currently have housing but it’s not the greatest place. I want to move away from drug-dependant tenants. What I’d really like to have is a two bedroom house. That’s the goal. I know I am going in the right
way, it’s just going to take time to get there.” Marty sometimes brings in his partner for a hot meal. “It helps her get out. She has mental health disability and should have been on a pension years ago. She’s recently lost a few family members which doesn’t help. But she doesn’t mind it here,” said Marty. “I love coming here. It’s one of the best places I come to. I mean that.” *Name has been changed.
A HELPING HAND At HopeStreet Port Kembla between January and May this year... 5901 meals were provided 1696 food parcels given out 4003 drop-in visits welcomed 43 events organised and attended by 449 people To support our work go to hopestreet.org.au/donate
Winter 2022
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Fleeing violence with children into homelessness When our team met Brigit*, she was homeless with three children aged between three and thirteen - two of whom required care due to disability. Brigit’s carer’s payment didn’t get far as she desperately sought accommodation. “It was emotionally draining. I was finding out I just couldn’t cope,” she said. Brigit had fled when her husband’s attention turned on the kids after abusing her physically, financially, and psychologically for many years. “He started telling the kids terrible things, I was concerned for their safety. I couldn’t do it anymore.” Our BaptistCare HopeStreet team provided emergency food support and assisted Brigit with gaining temporary accommodation, while supporting her search for permanent housing. It wasn’t easy. Women’s refuges and emergency short-term accommodation were at capacity. Brigit took part in a government program where
they were allocated a onebed hotel room in a different location every three days. Josephine, Brigit’s caseworker, called on her contacts for a one-bedroom placement in a refuge. She also communicated with Centrelink, NDIS, and the Department of Education, and organised school bags, inschool counselling, and assisted transport. There were legal aid applications, and submissions for crisis payments. Brigit said she finally had someone in her corner. “Josephine is amazing, she’s so good at what she does. I wouldn’t have known what to do without her.” To gain government housing, Brigit was expected to go out and look at rentals despite her carer responsibilities. “The children were so unsettled but Brigit is an amazing mum. I found her to be really tenacious, and humble. Very rarely did she cry – but when she was weak, she broke me,” said Josephine. After five months, Brigit and her children moved into permanent
housing. Life is now starting to resemble some sense of safety and normalcy. “Where I am I feel safe at the moment. The kids seem to be doing well getting back to the routine of school and care,” said Brigit. You can help provide safety, support and vital services to women and their children fleeing violence. Visit our website today hopestreet.org.au/donate. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT. org.au. In an emergency, call 000. * Names have been changed. Images are for illustration purposes.
FLEEING VIOLENCE The #1 reason for homelessness is domestic and family violence A leading 2021 national report found that: 3.2% received long-term solutions 7,690 women returned to violent partners 9,120 women + kids forced into homelessness 16,810 social housing units immediately needed https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-0714/housing-shortage-forcing-women-toreturn-to-violent-partners/100288678
To help us support women donate today at
“Josephine is amazing... I wouldn’t have known what to do without her.”
hopestreet.org.au/donate
FAIR FINANCE
David’s rego reprieve as cost of living soars Nearly half of Australians are worried about making ends meet, according to recent Vote Compass data1. Rated as the second most important issue for voters prior to the Federal election, economic pressure on individuals and families really starts to pinch when it comes to big and essential payments like the car registration being due. David, one of our BaptistCare No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) clients, said he’s been listening to the discussion around the inflation rate on the radio. “Things are getting ridiculous. Even my friends in America are asking ‘How do you survive? We’ve just found out how much you pay for petrol and food!’. When’s it going to stop?” asks David. David, who lives in Sydney’s south-west, has used no interest loans for the last four years to help him pay his car rego. “On top of everything else, car expenses are not cheap. I’ve just had to pay for a new windscreen because of the hopestreet.org.au
potholes along the M5 – that alone cost me $350,” said David. “I use my car for everything really, to get my groceries, to get to see my kids. The no interest loan is a godsend, especially when you’re on a low income like I am at this point of time. I’d be lost without it,” said David.
finance. “I ended up hearing about BaptistCare and their NILS program through church. I was able to make the enquiries and it has been helpful ever since,” said David.
ACCELERATING CAR COSTS
“Truthfully if the loan wasn’t available I don’t think I would be able to have a car. That’s how tight things are with maintenance, insurance, CTP.”
40%
increase in the average weekly fuel bill in one year
14.7%
Every year David connects with Melissa Vincent from our BaptistCare Campbelltown NILS team to organise the loan payment.
of Australians’ income is spent on transport
37%
increase in used car prices since February 2020
“The process is so easy. Melissa and I tend to have a chat about how we are going, how the families are. She’s brilliant. It makes it so easy dealing with someone who is so genuine. And I only pay $28 a fortnight – I don’t see it and I don’t miss it. That’s the best thing about it.” David originally had a hard time finding affordable and fair
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Automobile Association
To support people like David and ensure their mobility and independence, donate now at hopestreet.org.au/donate https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-25/ vote-compass-cost-of-living-make-endsmeet-poll-results/101011792
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Winter 2022
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“I had no one else to help me. It was emotionally draining. I was finding out I just couldn't cope.” We need your help to continue to support women to experience safety, regain their independence and have choices.
PLEASE DONATE TODAY
hopestreet.org.au/donate
Raising much-needed funds escaping domestic violence
NEW DATE! Friday 28 October 2022 The Fullerton Hotel Sydney TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS ON SALE AT TICKETS ON SALE SOON BAPTISTCARE.ORG.AU/HALOBALL Our Purpose: Transforming Lives By Expressing The Love Of Christ. Our Values: Love | Respect | Reliability | Empowerment