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At just 22, Emily* faced a terrifying decision no young woman should ever have to make.
She was 37 weeks pregnant when she packed her bag and escaped a violent relationship, only to be confronted with another battle.
Finding somewhere safe to sleep.
She had enough money for one night in a cheap motel, but what then? How do you raise a child when you’re experiencing homelessness?
Emily told us,
“I’d never lived out of a bag before, I was going from couches to motel rooms. And I couldn’t see things getting better.”
You see, less than 1% of rental properties in Australia are affordable for mums like Emily.
Emily found the courage to pick up the phone and call The Salvation Army, and thanks to people like you, her call for help was answered.
Emily was immediately placed into emergency accommodation. And as her due date raced closer, Jackie, her Salvos Case Worker, worked to find a safe, secure place for Emily and her baby to call home.
And she did so just in time, as Emily told us...
“Five hours into labour, Jackie called and said, ‘I’ve found you a house!’ I was so grateful. So happy to have a roof over my baby’s head. The Salvos are amazing.”
Your Red Shield support will help give another mum like Emily hope for a safe, stable and secure home.
Please donate to the 2026 Red Shield Appeal.
*To protect Emily’s privacy, her name and some details of her story have been changed.