Telethon-Backed Initiative Provides Homes for Families in Need
St Pat's has launched a new family support program, supported by Telethon, aimed at addressing the growing homelessness crisis in Western Australia. The program focuses on providing stable housing for families, children, and young people who are experiencing homelessness, a demographic that service providers report is increasing rapidly.
A Mother's Struggle with Homelessness
For Tallulah, a 32-year-old mother, years of homelessness and instability defined her life. She lived in a van voluntarily before her son was born, but after his arrival, her situation became more precarious. "I had him and then I was just jumping around, couch surfing, in share houses, staying with family," she recalls. "I always felt like a burden on whoever I stayed with, especially having a baby or toddler. There's so much guilt that comes with that."
Tallulah describes how the lack of a permanent home affected her three-year-old son, who was often anxious and rarely spoke. "I didn't even really realise how anxious he was," she says. "I thought he was just a really timid child who needed to be with me constantly. But now I realise that as soon as he feels safe, he's happy to play and sing."
Transformation Through Stable Housing
Just seven weeks after moving into a home provided by St Pat's, Tallulah has witnessed significant changes in her son. "His talking has really burst open," she notes. "Now we can finally create our own life, and I can start thinking about schools. Before, it was like I don't know where I'm going to be."
Before finding support, Tallulah felt trapped in a cycle of anxiety and sadness. "I was kind of stuck in a loop," she admits. After exhausting other options, she approached St Pat's for help. "I rocked up at St Pat's in a fluster, like, 'please help, I don't know what to do'. They made it possible to get my own home, whereas it just wasn't possible before."
Rising Homelessness Crisis in WA
St Pat's, now a beneficiary of Telethon, initiated this program in response to the escalating homelessness crisis across Western Australia. Leigh Harland, support services manager at St Pat's, highlights the drastic increase in families experiencing homelessness. "Our outreach team was going out and seeing more and more families," she explains. "Three or four years ago, it was very unusual to see families sleeping rough or in such uncertain circumstances."
Tallulah emphasizes that homelessness can happen unexpectedly. "You don't think it could ever happen to you," she says. "When you are homeless, you look like a normal person, but you're not sure where you're going after."
The program not only provides housing but also enables families to rebuild their lives. Tallulah and her son now enjoy simple pleasures, such as cooking meals in their own kitchen. "It's amazing to be able to be in the kitchen making a meal, and he can be in another room," she shares. "Now he can just be a kid, something so many children take for granted."
This initiative underscores the critical need for community support and funding to combat homelessness, offering hope and stability to those most vulnerable.
