Faces of homelessness
Homelessness has many different faces and everyone’s got a different story, says Terrence Hagarty. Now 58, Terrence experienced homelessness for about 16 years before finding a two-bedroom apartment he can call home in Boronia.
His story starts in 2002 when his marriage broke up and he ended up living on the streets of Melbourne.
“The homeless journey is a hard one,” Terrence says. “I’d hate to do it today at my age because I don’t think I would survive. When you’re a parent yourself and you see kids out there the same age as your kids it’s a real hard one.
“Not everyone is homeless by choice — open your heart. Not everyone who’s homeless is a bad person. I’ve met some very knowledgeable people and I’ve asked myself, why are you out here, you shouldn’t be here with what you know and the skills that you possess. But something’s gone wrong in their world and it’s taken them on a dark road.”
Homelessness Week from 7-13 August aims to raise awareness about homelessness, who it affects and solutions needed to ensure everyone has safe and secure housing, it is a basic human right. Council has a four-year plan to increase social and affordable housing, with a particular need for smaller dwellings to match the needs of an ageing population.
“When you’re coming from homelessness you’re trying to change your stars,” Terrence says. “It’s something that I always say to my kids — you can always change your stars, you’ve just got to walk that path, a new direction of life.”
Our Short Term Support Team aims to assist people in Knox who are experiencing (or are at risk of) homelessness connect to appropriate organisations such as Knox Infolink to ensure they can access the support they need within Knox.
For over 30 years Knox City Council has provided funding and support to local agencies such as Knox Infolink and the Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance on Preventing Homelessness, facilitating access to public housing and providing food and other material relief such as Myki cards and chemist and op shop vouchers to those in need.
Terrence has been involved with Knox Infolink since 2012, receiving support with things like Centrelink, legal advice and dental appointments, and attending their Monday to Friday breakfast program.
“Since the breakfast program, I can say that I have eaten breakfast for 18 months,” Terrence says. “The breakfast program also helps homeless people get their washing done and have a shower. And it has a mail service for homeless people.”
Knox Infolink case worker Julie Rees says Council often helps when she has clients she can’t find housing options for.
“I’ve always had a great response from Council where they will come to Knox Infolink and meet the client with me, and then work in partnership to support this client,” she says.
“Council often assist by making applications for public housing and they can provide housing options that are not accessible to me. There have been many cases where they’ve been able to house someone successfully and to this day the client’s still happily housed.”
How can you help?
Knox Infolink are needing community members to volunteer their time and skills, you can contact them on 9761 1325 or [email protected] to discuss opportunities further.
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