James

When James found himself in hospital for three months, in a life-or-death situation due to an aneurysm and stroke, he didn’t expect for his life to completely change. 

The 36-year-old was living at The Haymarket Foundation, a local crisis accommodation centre for people experiencing homelessness and other disadvantages in Sydney, while working at Advanced Metal Door Frames when he landed in hospital. 

James’ recovery was a long road but soon enough he found himself back at Haymarket before being transferred to their other crisis accommodation service in Ashfield. James was left with nothing, until his social worker connected him to Shahn from Evolve Housing under the Together Home program. 

The Together Home program provides much-needed support and housing for struggling Australians. For James, the program was a life-changer, connecting him to Evolve Housing and his case coordinator Shahn, who set out short-term goals to help James to get to where he needed to be. 

“Shahn encouraged me to look after my health before I started TAFE to study a Certificate 4 in Mental Health. I was settled in a new home and Shahn sorted out grants for me to purchase a new desk, chair and laptop for my future studies. I couldn’t believe that this was now my life. Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep going [with my studies] because of my health but Shahn said that my health was a priority.” 

James turned his focus to recovering and his six-year-old daughter Emily-Grace, knowing that he wanted to be around for her as she grew up. He said with Shahn’s guidance, he was able to understand what was going on in his life. 

“It means a lot to me to be around my daughter. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be working so hard to get better.” 

James is hoping to get back to TAFE at the end of the year but said without the support and assistance of the Together Home program, he wouldn’t be where he is today. 

“Together Home is an important program, a pillar of my lifeline. They have been there for me in every situation…if I didn’t have a home I don’t know where I’d be. But now I have a home to go to. I get to clean my place, make my food, watch TV because of Together Home. I know my health is improving because I’m in this program.” 

Offering words of encouragement, James said: “I would like people to not give up, be courageous, believe in yourself, you can do anything you focus on.”