From the outside, Emily* and her two children are like any other family. It would be impossible to tell they were experiencing homelessness. 

Emily’s children attend the school near where Lutheran Care’s parenting and family hub is located in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.  

One morning, Emily entered the family hub visibly stressed and upset. The family had just spent the night shivering in her car at the school and she felt like she had failed as a mother.  

When Family Zone staff showed compassion and a genuine willingness to help her family, Emily broke down as she spoke about her situation. Since leaving her former partner last year, she had found it difficult to secure housing in an unaffordable rental market and had been moving between friends’ houses to survive.  

When she ran out of options, they had moved into the car. 

The team referred Emily to the local homelessness Alliance, from which Emily’s family received essential support and were quickly placed in short-term emergency accommodation. With a safe place secured, it was the first important step on a journey to a brighter future. 

Emily also met with a Lutheran Care financial counsellor and together they created a workable budget. This helped her feel more confident with financial decision-making and gave her hope moving forward.  

Over the next few weeks, Emily continued to reach out for support and built a strong relationship with her support services. While Emily is hopeful of gaining a rental soon, she continues to engage with Lutheran Care and is willing to reach out for support when needed. The organisation continues to assist her during this difficult time. 

Read more real life experiences of homelessness here.

*Name has been changed and stock image/s used to protect identity.