Craig

When you ask Craig to talk about his life, the first thing he will tell you is that he’s “happy to be here”. After all that he’s been through, no one would expect Craig to be grateful for the journey that brought him to Evolve Housing.

Coming from a privileged background, Craig never imagined that he would end up homeless after his family home was sold. But that’s exactly what happened and how he found himself sleeping rough in the middle of winter with only the clothes on his back and his dirt bike.

The then 47-year-old was too proud to tell his family and friends that he had no home. For two months in 2020, Craig was homeless. He slept in his friends’ cars just to have a warm place at night.

When a police officer, who happened to be his friend, found him in a car, Craig started to get the support he needed. Craig’s friend took him to Link2Home, a service which provides homelessness support and accommodation services across NSW. For the first time in two months, Craig had a hot shower, changed his clothes, quenched his thirst and hunger and finally slept in a bed.

“I was hungry…the hunger was worse than being a drug addict and I’ve been one for most of my life,” Craig told Evolve Housing.

Craig knew this wasn’t the life he wanted to lead. He wanted to make his three children proud. Link2Home placed Craig in a motel for three months where he created a rental history to better his chances of finding a home to rent. He was then connected to a case worker from Evolve Housing’s Together Home program, which provides housing and support services to people who are sleeping rough or who are, or have recently been, living in temporary accommodation.

“That three months in the motel was a nightmare and I wanted to get out,” Craig recalled. “I met my case worker within a month of staying at the motel and he told me they had a place for me.

“He [my case worker] gave me confidence and having someone check in on me meant I had to stay on the planet…it wasn’t easy after what I had been through. I finally moved to Warwick Farm in Sydney’s Western Suburbs and my case worker did everything for me, taking me to the dentist, showing me places to get food from, sorting out my driver’s license. Anything I needed help with, he was there.”

Craig stayed in Warwick Farm for two-and-a-half years before moving to Evolve Housing’s brand-new social housing complex, Lidcombe Rise in July 2023.

“I love having my own place. It’s great I can do what I want,” Craig said. “After years of struggling with my wellbeing and having trouble sleeping, I’ve been able to draw again. I only draw when I’m good, and I’ve been drawing a lot.”

With the safety of having his own place and a supportive girlfriend, Craig was motivated to do everything he could to keep a roof over his head.

“I wanted to do everything for Lauren. She told me to get off the drugs, helped me get my daughters back in my life and with her support, and Evolve Housing’s support, I have a lounge, I have nice clothes. She believed in me and was there for me.”

Craig praised everyone in his life who got him to where he is and offered words of encouragement to those who may find themselves in a similar situation.

“If you’re in the program [Link2Home], you should really count yourself lucky. It is a fantastic program that has helped so many people, including myself. I am happy to be here and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”