Exposed. Homelessness. An exhibition of photographs taken by people who have accessed the Specialist Homelessness Service, Connecting Home.

Transcription

1 Homelessness Exposed An exhibition of photographs taken by people who have accessed the Specialist Homelessness Service, Connecting Home. Produced by the Northern Rivers Social Development Council.

2 I Wish I wish Homeless people get food and drinks A nice place to sleep and Shelter from the cold I wish Homeless people get nice clothes A place to eat and A place to clean themselves If my wish came true They don t need to sleep on the streets They can buy what they want They travel, know more about the world than most They can t trust anyone Tattered and torn Old and quite worn They live on the street no shoes on their feet But somehow they survive Despite their poor health And absence of wealth They sleep where their able Cars couches old tables Seeks shelter from the rain Most often in vain And each night she does pray To see a new day by Melanie Caught it not bought it by Melanie Our Hope Images by Melanie: Our Wardrobe

3 Home Sweet Home. Michael is a 30-year-old man living in a dilapidated caravan park in Ballina. He followed his mother from Sydney after both escaping domestic violence. His mother has left the area and Michael is still not wanting to return to Sydney. As Michael has an intellectual disability and lived with his parents for the majority of his life he needs a lot of support to live independently. Michael is interested in supported accommodation but waiting periods are very long and he may not ever be offered a place. He is presently considering options and looking to relocate to Brisbane where there are more options for him. Dead End Our Support Bath and Shower Thank God

4 The St Vincent de Paul Society has been making a difference to people s lives, homeless people and those in need, since it was first founded over 170 years ago. Vinnies is recognised as a caring charity lending a hand up to those who need it. I myself have been helped out by the charity a number of times. When I was 15 or 16 and left home for the first time, I ended up going to Vinnies for support. I had nowhere to go, no income, very little belongings and clothes. They offered me support in leading me in the direction of places I could stay, they helped me get some clothes and gave me food vouchers and one of the most important things offered me counselling, someone to talk to. Never did they ever make me feel like I was being judged, or make me feel like less of a person because of the situation I was in. Even now, being a 20 year old with a 2 year old child I find myself looking to them for help when I very much need it. I am grateful to St Vincent de Paul for how they helped me in my times of need and I hope many others feel the same gratitude towards them that I do. They respect people s dignity and offer them hope and encouragement to take control of their destiny, all the while providing help where help is desperately needed. Since the charity was established it has had such a positive impact on communities and people, addressing issues not just of homelessness but including mental health & wellbeing, domestic & family violence, addictions such as substance abuse and gambling and many other issues that individuals and families face. In NSW alone, Vinnies helps around people annually. I won t forget what Vinnies have done for me, and I try to give back wherever I can, whether it be a donation of clothing or unwanted goods that get recycled and given to others in need, or a donation, or a simple thank you. After a night of rough sleeping Brad books in for his beauty treatment Brad is a homeless 32-year-old man living in the Richmond Valley. He has a lovely canine companion called Buddy who never leaves his side. Brad has some issues with substance addiction, which has created difficulties in his life leading to unemployment, poor physical and mental health, relationship breakdown, contact with the criminal justice system and homelessness. He has been couch surfing and sleeping rough for many months. As he has a dog and is on Newstart finding an affordable rental has been hard. Brad also is trying to improve his wellbeing to increase his chances of success in a new tenancy. by Lilly (19)

5 I left home when I was 13. One year ago I was smoking ice and didn t have anything. The only thing I did have then was clothes because I was addicted to stealing. I now have a beautiful baby girl, and we have everything we need. I want to study to be a beautician and find a safe and stable home. by Amber (18) I got a lot of second-hand baby things donated because I was homeless, but many of them were broken and couldn t be used.

6 Depression Depression is not a weapon And it s definitely not a lesson It s not what we are born with It s a trauma we never forget But we do regret No one really understands Because we feel we are all alone Only to wish we had a home With peace and love Somewhere we can feel safe Without feeling trapped People make us feel like crap All we want is a helping hand Without someone being mad No one blaming us All we want is a bit of trust We don t ask for much All we want is a little touch Maybe some compassion would be nice Just to spice someone s life. by Kimberly The gate represents safety, being able to feel secure My car, how I would love a wardrobe to hang my clothes Kimberly is a 54-year-old woman who has lived in Kingscliff her whole life. She lived in a beautiful home with her husband and 2 kids for 20 years but was the victim of domestic violence and ended up left with nothing. Kim has been unable to find a permanent home for nearly 2 years. She can t afford a place on her own and has experienced some terrible share house situations. She is currently in temporary accommodation in which she will need to be out of by October. Angels by K. Haddit

7 Noah thought he was camping, he doesn t know the difference. He enjoyed it, he makes friends with the old people travelling. Fiona and her son have been working with the Connecting Home program for a month now, Since that time she has been linked in with two other services within our organisation for extra supports. Her and her son are still looking for their new home. (Edited: Since the exhibition Fiona and her son have just secured a private rental.) Hockey s First Home Buyers on Wheels HeartBreak K. Haddit has been supported by Connecting Home whilst living in his car because he was unable to find affordable housing in Ballina on a Newstart Allowance. A very sick man, but unable to get support through the Disability Support Pension. K. Haddit has a history of trauma, and a history of working for many years on construction sites. Wanting desperately to get back into the working world, he has been held back by his health. He is on the priority housing list and currently living in a men s boarding house. (Edited: Since the exhibition K.Haddit has been able to secure long-term affordable housing.)

8 Jack s Shoes Imagine yourself in Jack s shoes. It s a cold, rainy winter s day. Jack is sitting on a park bench, luckily under cover out of the rain. He has nothing but a backpack with a few belongings, the clothes on his back, a few coins in his pocket and the shoes on his feet. Shoes that he has worn for so long that the soles are wearing through the rubbers coming apart and are slowly fading to nothing but an empty shell that s barely covering his feet. How would you feel? I can imagine it would be terrible. And that s how thousands of people are feeling, people who are in that exact situation or a situation very similar. People who are financially sound probably don t think about things like this, if they need a new pair of shoes they simply go and buy them or save money to buy them but what about the people who aren t in a situation where they can do just that? I m not meaning to make people feel guilty about the fact that they have a decent pair of shoes to put on but next time your slipping into a comfortable pair of Nikes or Con s or Jimmy Choo s or whatever brand it is you wear, just spare a thought for those in need, people whose feet can t keep dry or warm because of worn out shoes, people who simply can t afford to buy new ones. Maybe if you have shoes you ve grown out of or don t wear anymore, donate to them to charity so they can go to someone who needs them. You never know that one day when you could be the one in Jacks shoes. by Lilly (19) This photo illustrates the last location where it was possible to have a shower in Byron Bay for homeless. It is not possible anymore. This exhibition of photographs was presented by the Northern Rivers Social Development Council for Homelessness Prevention Week 2015.