Sharlene grew up in an overcrowded home. Sometimes up to ten people living in a two bedroom house. She had two children while living there, but eventually, the crowded living conditions made it untenable for her to stay and look after them.

At the age of 23, Sharlene was sleeping rough on the streets, a reality she never let on to her family, least of all her children. Scared most nights, Sharlene began hanging out with other girls who were homeless for safety.

It was with these other girls that Sharlene first visited Tranby Engagement Hub. On the days when they had run out of money, she knew they could always get a feed, a shower, a clean towel and a change of clothes.

She still visits Tranby to this day, sometimes to visit “Wendy the Centrelink lady”, the Services Australia Customer Service Officer working out of Tranby as part of a WA-first pilot to increase accessibility of Centrelink services to people experiencing homelessness. A process that is much easier for her to access at Tranby than paying for buses to travel to a Centrelink office.

It was through Tranby that Sharlene found her way to Koort Boodja.
“I finally got a bed to sleep on, I got to stretch, and I’m warm, you know. You can wake up in the morning and then have a nice cup of coffee without worrying about going out in the cold.”

With this safety and comfort, it’s starting to feel like she is building towards something. On the streets, even when she accrued the resources she needed, Sharlene would have to rebuild again when her stuff got ruined.

Now, she’s focused on getting blankets, curtains, clothes and other necessities ready to go for when she has her own home and can finally have her granddaughter over for a visit.

Sharlene praises the other women she met on the streets for helping her get to this point. Some who had been out there longer than her shared the wisdom of sticking together.