I was over the moon when my application for housing was approved.
Michelle RESIDENT, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
When Michelle moved into Common Ground Mellor Street, which is operated by Housing Choices, just before Christmas in 2014, she knew she needed to make “some big changes” in her life. Three years later she has done just that.
Indigenous communities really interests me in the long term. There’s a lot that needs to be done in that area, on the ground and in legislation and policy. I’m also very interested in policy and making changes that can then flow on. “I dropped out of school in Year 11 so I had never written an essay in my life! But I’ve got a mentor and in my first semester I finished with two credits and a distinction.” Clearly, Michelle’s hard work and efforts are paying off. She was recently awarded the Kym Adey Catherine House University of South Australia Scholarship for women who have experienced hardship, which she will use to help fund her graduate studies. It was applying for the scholarship that caused her to take stock of just how far she had come. “I applied by writing a letter about my journey through Catherine House and my life now at Common Ground Mellor Street,” she said. “I’m just so grateful for the support that I’ve been given to get me to this point. It’s incredible.”
Michelle’s move into community housing came after several months living at Catherine House, which provides emergency accommodation and support for women. “I was over the moon when my application for housing was approved,” she said. “To have the long-term security of an apartment here has been really settling after going through some very tough times. “Most importantly, I was able to have my daughter (now aged 13) come back to live with me, which was fantastic, because until then I hadn’t been able to find affordable housing suitable for us. “I remember walking past to have a look at my apartment before I moved in and it was quite overwhelming,” she said. “It was absolutely brand new. I was fortunate to be given some new furniture too, which was donated by local businesses, which really helped.”
With support from the Common Ground program, which combines housing with intensive case-managed support and is run through Housing Choices South Australia, Michelle’s journey has been a steady upward one. Over the next two years, Michelle rebuilt her life - getting her health in order, linking into support services, volunteering and re-engaging in study. “My case manager has been a bit like a life coach for me and I set goals from day one,” she said. “Together with looking after my daughter, I got a sense of purpose, which was really massive for me. It’s been a very good, safe, stable environment.” In 2017 Michelle commenced a Bachelor of Social Work at the University of South Australia. “By doing this degree I’m going to be able to give back - to pay it forward,” she explained. “I would like to do my first posting in a remote Aboriginal community. Working with
Expanding Our Footprint - Annual Report 2016-17 47.
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