HomeGround Annual Report 2010/11 - HomeGround Services

stories FROM our work
Albert's story / Elizabeth Street Common Ground
ALBERT's
singing a
new song
“
Stable housing
must be the
starting point
for recovery
for people
experiencing
mental illness
& homelessness.
Only with
secure housing
is there time
and space for
the process
of engagement,
dialogue and
discovery
that forms
the basis of
mental health
treatment
and care.
”
Dr Sally Wilkins,
Elizabeth Street Common Ground
Psychiatrist and former Acting Deputy
Chief Psychiatrist of Victoria
<
Albert is a charismatic and
charming man who has spent time
working around Australia as a chef and in
a variety of other jobs throughout his life.
He had never considered himself at risk
of being homeless, but a combination
of affordability and health issues showed
him how quickly a secure situation
can evaporate.
“As a result of my health issues, I had
stopped moving around and taken a job
in a call centre. I was living in Coburg in a
nice rental place. I was happy there and
the rent was affordable.
“Then, out of the blue, the landlord
increased it from $1,000 a month to
over $1,500. There was no way I could
afford that so I lost the place. When my
60 day notice to vacate ran out I still had
nowhere. Nothing was affordable and
I became homeless. It was a shock to
me more than anyone. I had no idea
what to do.
“Losing my security made it much harder
to keep my health issues under control.
I’ve got several mental health conditions
combined with a kidney condition which
means I can’t take medication. This
means I have to work twice as hard to
keep myself stable and healthy. That was
just impossible to do living on the streets.
“I stayed for a while in some real scary
rooming houses. Open sewers. Drug use.
Guys who would just come into your
room and take things or threaten you
if you looked the wrong way at them.
Places I wouldn’t bury my dog. There
were times I didn’t want to keep going.
“I couldn’t afford to see a psychologist
either so my mental health got worse.
My physical health got worse. I was in
and out of hospital all the time. I spent
months in there.
“Finally, I got offered an apartment at
Common Ground. It was just what
I needed. I have a GP and psychologist
on-site and health care.
“I’m doing courses through the Centre
of Adult Education (CAE), including
being a member of our choir. I’m working
now at Green Collect next door and hope
to get back into a job once I’m really
settled here.
“I have discovered I’m a natural born
mediator and have been helping some
of the other tenants advocate on issues
in the building. I’d like to do some more
work in entertainment if I got the chance.
I love being in the spotlight.”
“I have discovered I’m a
natural born mediator and
have been helping some of
the other tenants advocate
on issues in the building.”
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ANNUAL REPORT 2010 — 2011 35