Kerry’s journey from homelessness to hope
This time last year, Vincentia NSW Disability Employment Services (DES) client Kerrie Anne was homeless.
She had overstayed a notice to vacate and was in the process of tribunal proceedings to find a solution so her and her son would not become homeless. Unfortunately, she was not successful and had to vacate the premises. She had been couch surfing for several months and her son had been staying with his sister and her partner. Kerrie Anne was very depressed, with some days not being able to bring herself to get out of bed.
To make matters worse, Kerrie Anne’s storage unit was flooded, and she lost all of her belongings during the floods. This caused Kerri Anne to spiral and resulted in her not attending appointments and becoming non-compliant.
It was decided that the best course of action was for Kerrie Anne to attain a medical certificate so she could focus upon her mental health.
The last straw for Kerrie Anne was when her son relocated to Melbourne to live with his father. Kerrie Anne decided to build herself back up for her son’s sake.
She moved in with her daughter and started to attend counselling sessions.
After the completion of her medical certificate, Kerrie Anne’s DES Employment Consultant sprang into action. With determination, support and trust, Kerrie Anne and her DES Employment Consultant were going to face this together.
Kerrie Anne and her DES Consultant approached a local cleaning company who were willing to give her a try.
This job has been the best thing for Kerrie Anne, who has now been offered permanent part- time work. She is applying for housing and is hoping to be able to bring her son back home as soon as he completes his schooling at the end of this year.
Kerrie Anne has told Sureway that she could not have done it without their support and is so grateful to us for helping her along her tough journey. Kerrie Anne is now able to smile again and has a spring in her step. She looks forward to going to work each day and now plans to focus on finding a home.
Kerrie Anne says that 2023 is her year. “I have never seen her so happy, and she says that she now has something to get up for each day. She looks forward to going to work. She says that all she needs now is to find herself her own little home”, explains Kerrie Anne’s DES Employment Consultant.
Need help to find a career path that works for you? Get in touch with us on 1300 SUREWAY (1300 787 392) or [email protected] to find out how we can help.
