A clean slate
Kaurna and Narungga man Chad will never forget the moment he was told he had been allocated a community housing property with Believe Housing Australia six years ago.
“When I got the phone call and was told I had the property, I was over the moon,” Chad said.
“It was like a massive weight was lifted off my shoulder, allowing me to work on other goals.”
Chad’s journey to safety and security has been hard-fought.
Before becoming a Believe Housing Australia tenant, Chad had been bouncing between living in an unstable private rental that was dangerous for him and his children, and homelessness.
During this period of housing insecurity, Chad was also experiencing stressors in his personal life, which became overwhelming to manage.
Chad said when he was offered a property and tenancy through Believe Housing Australia, it gave him one less thing to worry about, allowing him to put that extra energy into other areas of his life.
“Moving into the property was the platform that allowed me to concentrate on myself, and do what’s best for my kids,” Chad said.
“Without the stress of finding somewhere to live, I was able to work on my health, study nursing, get employment, get back on the road, and take my kids to the sporting interests they have.”
Chad said securing a role as an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer in the Kumangka Padninthi Health and Wellbeing Unit at a hospital in the state’s north had been a positive experience.
“I feel lucky I got this job at the right time and have made it my own,” he said.
“It’s been really good.”
Chad said beyond securing housing, attending social programs run by Believe Housing Australia with other tenants had helped improve his health and wellbeing.
“Hanging around people in similar situations and making connections with them was really helpful,” he said.
“The activities gave me something to look forward to, and it made me feel better about myself, which is what I needed to move forward with my life.”
Chad said this period of self-improvement had been a positive influence on his children.
“They’re noticing their dad is not stressed all the time worrying about housing or other stuff like that,” he said.
“I feel like someone they can look up to because I am achieving my goals.”
Now, Chad’s future is looking brighter.
His role at the hospital is set to become permanent and he’s looking ahead towards homeownership.
“Eventually, I would like to own my own house, and I am currently saving for a deposit,” Chad said.
“That’s my goal for my future.”
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