Wesley Mission Annual Report 2020 - Flipbook - Page 34
Kerry’s artistic flair transforms her life and home
You wouldn’t realise from first glance, but when Kerry first moved into
her new home, her immaculately decorated apartment was sparse.
At the time, 57-year-old Kerry owned little furniture.
But she was just relieved to have a roof over her
head. For the last 12 months Kerry experienced
homelessness.
While Kerry finally has a safe place to live, she
desired to have a home she could be proud to call
her own. So, she searched Gumtree for free or
low-cost furnishings.
Kerry’s artistic flair then came to life. Piece by piece
Kerry has created a home for herself, styled to her
own taste. Hues of white, gold and silver work
perfectly together. From her white Hamptons coffee
table to her matching cushions and scenic wall-art,
Kerry’s eye for design is clearly a talent.
Emotion stirs in Kerry’s voice as she begins telling
her journey towards making a new home. “Because
I didn’t have anything for a year, I just wanted to
have my comfort again, my colours. I just wanted to
have nice things and appreciate them. It makes you
feel better. It just makes you proud that you’re
getting there.”
For a long time, Kerry didn’t feel safe. For years this
mother-of-two experienced an abusive relationship.
When Kerry’s boys were young, she found the
courage to leave and build a new life for her
children.
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For the next 14 years Kerry rented a home and
found a stable job to provide for her family. And for a
while, life was good. But just as Kerry began to feel
safe, tragedy struck. Kerry was bullied in the
workplace and consequently, injured her shoulder at
work. The pain from her shoulder injury led to
sleepless nights and ultimately, unemployment.
“I tried to stay on the job while I was injured and I
think that made matters worse. My health and
mental health deteriorated. I just crashed after that
and I haven’t worked since. It took a lot away from
me and I’ve never been able to get back up again,”
Kerry shares.
While Kerry received workers compensation
payments, it was never enough. Kerry’s rent
skyrocketed from $450 to $700 per week. In the
short-term Kerry managed to get by. But the final
blow came when the owners requested to move
back into their property. Suddenly Kerry had no
home.
Traumatised from her past experiences of abuse at
home and in the workplace, Kerry was worried
about her safety. Sadly, she couldn’t find an
affordable place to rent where she felt safe.
Kerry ended up on the streets. She bounced from
friend’s couches to refuges. And she continued to
feel unsafe.
Tears well up in Kerry’s eyes as she shares her
experience of being homeless. “I was scared. I
didn’t know where I was going, whose place I was
going to. I felt embarrassed, I felt ashamed. I felt like
a loser.”
But that all changed when Kerry met Patrick, a
Wesley Mission caseworker. “He was the kindest,
most helpful person,” she says. “If I didn’t have him,
I don’t know where I’d… be today.”
Just after Christmas 2019, Kerry received a phone
call from Patrick that altered the course of her life.
Thanks to Wesley Community Housing, Kerry now
has a place to call home in South-East Sydney.
“I just said yes straight away. I didn’t want to look. I
couldn’t do it anymore. Because of my injured
shoulder and poor sleeping patterns, I needed a
bed,” says Kerry. “But I fell in love with it as soon as
I saw it.”
Sitting on her modern grey couch, Kerry is now
surrounded by homely comforts. She finally feels
safe. The bars on her windows provide a sense of
relief. And she no longer fears for her life.
“It was Wesley Mission that picked me up and
helped me, held me by my hand and got me through
this,” Kerry says.
“It was Wesley Mission that
picked me up and helped me,
held me by my hand and got
me through this.”
We’ll continue to support Kerry while she remains in
transitional housing until a long-term home
becomes available.
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