Daniel's story transcript

Daniel: I was born in Sierra Leone. There was a war going on in my country. I was 11 years old when I came to Australia with my uncle, my uncle’s wife and my sister as refugees.

When I first saw Australia, I saw a lot of cars. There were more cars than people in Australia.

I had to move out of my uncle’s place. It was just too overcrowded for me to stay in. It was affecting my health. Going to school without food becomes tough. I couldn’t focus on my studies. I was just a bit too sad all the time. I wasn’t interested in making friends, it was more about just getting by. That was like the only family that I have here. I didn’t have anyone else to live with.

Ludmila: Overcrowding is one of the hidden sides of homelessness. Homelessness can have many different faces.

Christiana:  At Canterbury-Bankstown Youth Service, we provide accommodation to young people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. I volunteered to work with Daniel. We are from the same country. We normally talk in our own language, which he feels comfortable with. We have that connection. He trusts me.

The issues that came up were accommodation, his health, his education, budgeting, which is the economic and financial area. And also to support him to belong, because he did not have any idea how to engage with other social groups.

Daniel: When I moved to the refuge with Mission Australia, I felt relief. They found me a transitional property. From there, I found a private rental. Mission Australia helped with the application and I was able to move in here. The Rent Choice that I get from Family and Community Services covers almost half of the rent that I am paying.

Debbie: Rent Choice helps youth between the age of 16 to 24 to get into the private rental market. It enables our youth to be successful in a private rental property because we subsidise their rent.

Daniel: It makes my job easier to focus on my studies. I’m studying a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering. I enjoy building things with my hands. I feel secure about finding a job in the future because of the education that I am getting now. It will give me many opportunities to get a career in my field of study. Now I feel in control about things. I feel less stress.

I have Mission Australia as my family, and I’ve also got my church as my family so that keeps me emotionally attached. It feels like you belong. I’ve learned to be resilient. I’m growing stronger every day.

I volunteer for Canterbury-Bankstown Council. They have a sports youth program. You can make friendships and build on your life skills. When you make friends they help you grow as a person. They’re always there for you.

Ludmila: Where Daniel is now, we see him as a flourishing, independent young person and we see him in the near future to be able to manage all by himself.

Christiana: Daniel has developed a lot. It’s different from the Daniel I used to see. Shy to talk, I’d have to prompt him to say something.

Daniel: My biggest fear is forgetting where I came from, or to take things for granted. If you remember what you came from then you can know what you can do in your future.

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