Damian W
“I find it hard to go to the doctors.”
“My name is Damien W. I’m 43-years-old and have spent a third of my life on the street,” he says.
“I’ve worked in the construction industry for almost all of my whole life, even while homeless. I was bullied by my work colleagues for many things. At one point, I thought I had cancer and didn’t care as I felt life was already over for me anyway.
“Finally, I got myself checked out and the huge lump turned out to be a hernia. That was eight years ago now and I’ve still done nothing about the hernia.
“Once these thoughts get into your head it becomes impossible to go.”
“I find it hard to go to the doctors. After you explain that you are homeless, they look at you like you’re a new age leper without a leprosarium and so once these thoughts get into your head it becomes impossible to go.”

Receive news and events from Shelter WA straight to your inbox