Support that transforms a life — Ava's story

“You’re homeless, you’re in a refuge, you’re in survival mode. School was the least of my worries!” - Ava*

Homelessness strikes at a young age

Ava’s childhood was scarred by terrible abuse and violence — as a teenager she was forced into homelessness due to her safety. Ava was desperate to study and do well in school, but didn’t know how she was supposed to find a job, pay rent, and continue her studies when she didn’t have a safe place to sleep?

“I was more focused on survival than on the future. I’d been in poverty so long I didn’t even know what food I liked.”

Living in survival mode

The refuge Ava was in only had beds available for three months, so it wasn’t a long-term stable solution. Finishing school was the least of her worries. Barely able to function, she had no idea what the future held for her.

“It doesn’t allow you to come out survival mode. It’s not a supportive environment to finish your final year of schooling. Everyone's kind of at rock bottom, and we're all living in the same house. So it's not good living conditions for somebody trying to develop their life.”

A chance to start over

Ava’s challenges eased slightly when she entered a Salvos program, and gained access to safe, stable accommodation that allowed her to focus on completing her education.

“It was very exciting moving into Salvos accommodation. I had an independent unit to myself. Having a sense of stability and routine around my education was really important. Without it, finishing school may not have been possible for me.”

Ava was also supported by a dedicated Salvos case worker, and through the wraparound care, she was guided at every stage — from building essential life skills to completing her education and moving towards independence.

“It was really hard trying to finish my schooling and transition into adulthood at the same time. But at The Salvation Army, somebody was always there for you.

Having some human connection, a mentor, somebody who cares and who’s acknowledging your milestones, that’s really crucial, especially when you don’t have any other support in your life. It was like having someone to do what your parent or your guardian would do.

That meant everything to me.”

Thanks to the kindness and support of compassionate people, Ava was able to complete her degree. She is now living life, not just surviving it.

^{* Name and some details have been changed to protect privacy.}