A voice for the homeless: how Justine’s story highlights the reality of living on the streets
Sometimes it was a bench in Kings Park, other times it was tucked up in an ablution block in Matilda Bay.
While getting a good night’s sleep was a rarity, so too was the feeling of having a safe place to call home.
“It was very hard,” Justine recalled.
“It was a constant battle between my six senses and having to always be aware of my surroundings. That's why you don't get much sleep."
Eighteen months later, life looks different for Justine.
No longer wandering parks in search of their next sleeping spot, the 34-year-old is now living independently at one of Vinnies WA’s Community Housing properties, having been offered a room in February this year.
After years of rough sleeping and living with an untreated mental illness, reaching such a milestone once seemed unfathomable for Justine.
Originally from Rockingham, Justine first experienced homelessness in 2020 at the age of 29, following the breakdown of their relationship with their parents.
This led them to move into shared accommodation – but eventually, the instability became too overwhelming.
After a three-month stint sleeping rough in Byron Bay, Justine eventually returned to Perth by train, where they would spend the next three years sleeping rough across the city.
During the day, public libraries became a place of solace, with reading providing a welcome escape for Justine.
"I've always been a big reader," Justine says. “I would just sit in the library for hours and read.”
It wasn’t until 2024 that life took another unexpected turn, with Justine admitted to hospital and diagnosed with schizophrenia.
With nowhere safe to return to, hospital staff refused to discharge Justine they were able to secure supported accommodation.
Six months into their hospital stay, a referral to Vinnies Mental Health Service gave Justine the opportunity to start afresh.
Moving into The Village in Woodbridge, Justine was surrounded by peer workers and support staff who helped rebuild both confidence and independence.
"The Village has helped me get back on my feet,” Justine said.
During his time at The Village, Justine gained the practical skills needed to live independently again, from cooking and cleaning to managing medication, maintaining a healthy routine and building confidence in everyday life.
Justine’s progress saw them move into independent community housing managed by Vinnies.
"Vinnies has been really helpful in helping me get back on my feet and build my skills again."
Justine wrote a book about their journey from homelessness to housed.
Drawing on a lifelong love of reading, Justine turned to writing as both therapy and purpose.
They have since written and self-published several fiction novels, enrolled in a creative writing course at Curtin University, and published a deeply personal account of their journey in a memoir or sorts, The Struggles of Sleeping Rough.
The book shares the harsh realities of life on the streets, while also challenging the misconceptions that many people hold about homelessness.
"I want people to think about homelessness in a different way,” Justine said.
"By writing the book, I wanted to give a voice to the homeless – but it was also therapeutic for me to write down my experience."
While Justine said there is still a long way to go to rebuild their life, they hope their story encourages others experiencing homelessness to reach out for help.
"Listen to the people who know what's best for you, and one day you'll see that you too can get back on your feet,” they said.
Homelessness Week is an apt time to tell Justine's story, but is also a powerful reminder that homelessness can happen to anyone.
This year’s theme, Action Now, strengthens the call to action that more needs to be done now.
Because with the right support, safe housing and compassionate care, recovery is possible - and Justine’s journey is a testament to that.
A copy of Justine’s book, The Struggles of Sleeping Rough, is available to purchase on Amazon or via the publisher, Austin Macauley, at austinmacauley.com.
“By writing the book, I wanted to give a voice to the homeless.”