Paul’s Journey
Content warning:
This story contains references to suicide, which some readers may find distressing. Please take care while reading.
I wasn’t myself after my mum passed, I made mistakes. I had worked all my life and at 61 I ended up sleeping on the streets, not that I did much sleeping. The sounds kept me awake, sirens, screaming, bottles breaking.
I was so afraid, and I just didn’t know what to do. For a moment, I considered suicide. But what stopped me was thinking of the train driver and his family. I couldn’t do that to them.
After some time, I found Tranby, who referred me to Tom Fisher House and The Beacon. Towards the end of my week at Tom Fisher, I got a call from Jasmine at Uniting, a spot had opened at The Beacon. Having a roof over my head helped me get myself together and get another job. But on my way out to the FIFO site, I had a serious medical episode and nearly died in surgery.
When I woke up from surgery, I was worried I would end up back on the streets, but then I remembered Tranby and the team there. I knew I’d have support from Tranby, that made me feel so much better.
The staff at Tranby actually listened to me. They looked at me, eye to eye. And treated me like an individual. It’s stuff like that; on top of the other support they give you.
I’ve got temporary housing now, but I still go to Tranby to volunteer. The other day I had a video call for a job interview, and Paul (a Uniting WA worker) let me use his office to take the call. I’ve been sick recently and a few different staff members have called me to check in. That means a lot.
I’ve had a lot of help getting back on my feet. Now I want to pay that forward. I’m looking for work and ways to be useful, just like my mum taught me.
There's more than one way home
You've seen Paul's story - now follow James and Emma as they walk their own paths.
These stories were discovered among others through independent research we commissioned to explore the nuanced, often complex journeys of people building a pathway out of homelessness.
James
