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Thomas’ Story
Thomas’ path into homelessness began when his landlord forced him out during a tightening rental market, leaving him with nowhere safe to go. From the age of 17 through to 22, he lived through years of instability, drifting between friends’ couches, refuges, and the streets.
“Before I moved into Our Place, I was in and out of homelessness… I had a landlord who wasn’t understanding of the current rental market situation our city is in.”
The instability quickly took its toll. Without a permanent home, his mental health spiralled.
“I was struggling to find employment because I struggle a lot with anxiety and depression, so keeping a job was really hard while I was trying to get on top of everything else in my life.”
He sent out hundreds of job applications but received no replies, which only reinforced his sense of rejection and despair.
Before being accepted into temporary housing at a men’s refuge, Thomas stayed on friends’ couches.
“It was uncomfortable for all involved, but we made it work until I got a call back about a room in the refuge.”
The refuge provided him with a bed, but it was not the safety or stability he truly needed. While living there, Thomas briefly found work and started to feel hopeful. He saved $1,300 in tips to use for a bond and rent deposit so he could finally escape the cycle of homelessness. That hope was crushed when someone broke in and stole the money.
“The police and the staff at the refuge said it wasn’t a big deal and I should cut my losses and move on, and I really started to lose faith in where I was going in the world.”
Although the temporary housing provided short-term relief, it also highlighted the fragility of his situation. The theft and the lack of support left him feeling invisible, as though his efforts to get ahead would never be enough. Constantly moving and shifting routines, and never feeling settled, eroded his sense of self.
“I was always moving around from couch to couch, different schedules all the time… I really started neglecting myself and my responsibilities as a young person living out of home.”
This instability was compounded by the habits he had developed as a teenager working long hours as a chef. Without school to guide him, he missed out on building healthy relationships, coping strategies, and life skills.
“I fell into drugs and alcohol and really struggled to learn how to use them without it affecting my life.”
Each move, each loss, reinforced his sense that stability was out of reach.
By the time Thomas was referred to Our Place, he was weary and wary. He carried hope and fear in equal measure.
“My biggest hope moving in was to have enough stability in terms of housing and finances to be able to build routines and set goals for the future. A fear moving in here was being seen as a person with their hand out asking for help. I have a huge fear of that perception.”
The turning point came when he connected with his case worker.
“As soon as I connected with my case worker, I knew that I could achieve great things while I’m here. I’ve started seeing a psychologist and I’ve been learning how to navigate feelings and emotions… It’s really helped shift my mindset from being scared about needing help to almost being excited about helping myself again.”
For the first time in years, Thomas had the space to imagine a different kind of life.
“A stable place to live means somewhere where there is love to come home to, where there’s always something cooking that was made with heart and soul, laughter and tears. The comfort to express feelings, emotions and opinions in a respectful environment.”
The staff at Our Place were not just service providers, they were advocates and allies.
“They have helped me connect with my psychologist, navigate the CIT enrolment process, and advocated for me to help find funding for my ideal course. They’ve also written support letters for Housing ACT, explained the process, and even taken me to appointments.”
Step by step, Thomas began to rebuild his confidence.
“Since moving in, I have felt a very positive change in my life. I’ve started to shift into a growth mindset and remember that everything is part of the process.”
What makes him most proud is not an external achievement but a profoundly personal one.
“The biggest thing was letting go of my ego and pride and putting my hand up and asking for help… Now I’m on a better path, and I’m proud of myself for taking the steps I have.”
Through his journey, Thomas has come to realise that his past does not define his life.
“I’ve discovered that I can actually still build a beautiful life for myself outside of my past issues. This program has really helped me take a step back and work on things I need to make my life more beautiful.”
His goals today are simple but powerful: establishing routines that help him feel in control.
“A goal that I’m working towards now is building a weekly routine of cleaning, cooking, self-grooming and hobbies so I can be less overwhelmed when I need to do bigger tasks.”
He is working toward a future that is peaceful, steady, and free of the chaos that defined his early adulthood.
“I would like to live a peaceful life. My adulthood started with chaos in the middle of the pandemic, and I’ve learned that it’s the smaller things in life that bring the most happiness.”
When asked what he would say to someone facing similar struggles, Thomas’ response is empathetic and firm.
“Speak up for yourself. And remember that it will be hard for a while, but the person you become at the end of it all is so worth it. You learn empathy and kindness through the hurt. Keep your head up, kiddo, you got this.”
Looking back, he calls his journey “wild, painful, chaotic, but fun, I guess.”
But looking forward, he embraces hope. His favourite quote, from Finding Nemo, captures the spirit that carried him through.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”