Kelly S

“I have been homeless for three years this time – it seems like forever but it’s only been three years,” Kelly says.

“Before that I had a house in Kwinana but I got kicked out. When I was in that house I was there for six years and for four years I was happy. I have mental health issues and they could have given me another house, I wanted to move. They told me ‘I had to be better’, I was doing my best. It was all white people on a panel, judging me. I got into fights and then I got a strike.

“I’m afraid to have a home.”

“The strike system is horrible, even in Geraldton I got behind on the rent and they evicted me. Then I got a $5,000 fine. Now I’m afraid to have a home.

“Before that I was homeless going back ten years.

“Now I have a urinary tract infection.”

“Now I have a UTI, I catch the cold and flu – it’s a good thing I can go to Safe Night Space at Ruah.

“In March I got COVID-19 when I was homeless. I ended up being at someone’s house. I got vaccinated myself – I got it at the shopping centre. Lucky I was at a house – we all isolated together. At the moment I live in my van so I can sleep. I was in a caravan park in January but I had to leave there too.

“This doctor rang me up and said ‘I want to see you’. He’s excellent.

“I’ve got depression so I take tablets.”

“He’s from Derbarl Yerrigan – I’ve got depression so I take tablets. The doctor said I’ve got bipolar and liver issues; I’m back on the priority list for a house.

“Wunjening is helping with my counselling. It’s helping with my anxiety.

“I would like to do my art.

“If I see another sandwich I will scream.”

“Eating healthy is hard. If I see another sandwich I will scream. I can’t eat second-hand food, I just cannot eat sandwiches or day old meat – I get bad stomach issues.

“I used to have lots of pain. Not having a home affects my health but I don’t drink alcohol or take drugs.

“I’ve done my community service certificate and youth service, I would like to work in that field.

“If I met the Minister for Housing and Homelessness, I would tell him we need to fix housing.”