Beyond Homelessness: Finding Purpose and Possibility

I’m sitting in my lab perusing at the latest Census statistics. Every night hundreds of thousands of Australians are estimated to be experiencing homelessness – adults, children, young and old. In Victoria, my home state, this is the harsh reality for more than 24,000 lives. A number that has grown by a staggering 24% since 2016.

In the adjacent laboratory, three students under my supervision are striving—just barely—to meet my standards for producing logical and ethical data for my research in Horticulture and Agriculture. I am pursuing a PhD at one of Australia’s most prestigious universities, consistently ranked among the world’s leading institutions.

I lean back and exhale deeply. Seven years ago, this reality felt utterly unattainable. Back then, I was one of the many nameless faces represented in statistics. Seven years ago, I was living out of my car, navigating through the toughest chapter of my life.

Let me challenge your perspective. What image comes to mind when you think of someone experiencing homelessness? Is it someone battling substance misuse? Someone who made poor choices? Or someone escaping domestic violence? That wasn’t my story. My life was, by all accounts, thriving—running a successful consultancy, owning investment properties, replacing cars every two or three years, enjoying frequent travel for leisure and business, and cherishing a happy family life supported by a wide social network.

“We are only one pay cheque away from homelessness.” For most who experience it, this statement rings painfully true. In my case, a catastrophic life event, coupled with years of neglecting my mental health, set off a chain reaction. It plunged me into a steep decline, marked by acute and debilitating depression and anxiety.

This state of being doesn’t just immobilise you mentally—it leaves you emotionally drained and physically incapable of handling even the simplest of tasks, aside from breathing. And even that, at times, felt involuntary.

I cut off all communication. I didn’t speak to my family, friends, creditors, or clients. Eventually, everything unravelled—we lost our family home, my wife and I separated, and my family moved away. Left on my own, I began living in my car, consumed by embarrassment and shame, telling no one about my situation.

Distrustful of everyone and everything, I avoided contact. Alone and uncertain about the future or why my life had taken this turn, I couldn’t foresee where this downward spiral would lead me.

So how did I transition from sleeping in my car to walking the halls of academia? I can’t pinpoint the exact moment it all began to change. What I do remember is a single phone call to a service I found online—a desperate attempt for help, even though I wasn’t sure what kind of help I needed.

That call transformed my life. I was offered a room at Ozanam House, a crisis accommodation centre in North Melbourne run by VincentCare Victoria, part of the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Group.

Four pm, Friday, 17 February 2017—my induction into Ozanam House—is a moment etched into my memory.

Ozanam House represents a paradigm shift in addressing homelessness. It goes beyond just providing a place to stay. Instead, it offers a comprehensive, wraparound support system in one accessible location—a vital step towards creating sustainable, long-term solutions for those facing homelessness. These are the kinds of services we need more of—services that do more than put a roof over someone’s head. They are not temporary sticking plasters or feel-good gestures but holistic efforts designed to break the cycle of homelessness entirely.

Homelessness is a multifaceted issue, deeply intertwined with unique individual circumstances and needs. Its solutions need to be equally nuanced. What Ozanam House demonstrates is that while the issue is complex, the solutions don’t have to be overly complicated.

Above all, they need to be accessible.

The model at Ozanam House is more than just about food and shelter. It encompasses crisis and extended accommodation and provides access to a wide range of essential services: medical care through nurses, GPs, dentists, podiatrists, and optometrists; financial and legal advice; Centrelink services; and personalised guidance and mentorship. These services are offered in a welcoming, non-judgemental space by staff who take the time to genuinely understand each individual. It’s a place where stigma has no place—a safe harbour for people in their most vulnerable state.

Being there helped me rebuild trust, develop rapport, and regain a sense of responsibility for my life. From medical care to activities like acupuncture, art therapy, boxing, and exercise programmes, I took advantage of everything available. Acupuncture boosted my motivation. Art therapy revealed a calm, expressive side of me I didn’t know existed. Boxing and exercise jumpstarted my weight loss journey. Each of these programmes became a building block in reconstructing who I am today.

Joining the Client Volunteer Programme at Ozanam House—where residents contribute by volunteering at the centre—helped me rediscover my sense of purpose. It was a pivotal step in my journey. This level of personalised care and attention is what makes Ozanam House a shining example of effective, transformative homelessness support.

The care is authentic. It made me feel like I mattered. My experience of homelessness became just one chapter in my story—not the entire narrative.

At a time when society often renders you invisible, Ozanam House gave me the profound feeling of being seen, heard, and genuinely cared for. That sense of validation and support is what sustains you—it motivates you not to let down those who are helping you. And when all the services you need are under one roof, you’re much more likely to engage and commit to your growth.

Homelessness, like people, is complex. There is no universal solution because no two stories are the same. Behind every statistic is a person with a unique journey and specific needs. Ozanam House shows that addressing these needs with a diverse range of options leads to more meaningful and lasting outcomes.

The goals for addressing homelessness are always evolving. Ozanam House, with its innovative, holistic approach, continues to adapt, aiming to help people climb out of the relentless cycle of homelessness and emerge stronger.

Homelessness is an undeniable reality of our world. To ignore it is to live with blinkers on. We must educate ourselves about its intricacies, individuality, and humanity. The solution starts with removing the stigma, fostering acceptance, and working together to eliminate this issue. See the person, not the statistic.