Sharon fled her long-term relationship because of domestic violence with nothing but the clothes on her back and the tent she was given by emergency services.
“It was like spilling a jar of jellybeans, how quickly my life was upended. I had to flee my home, and I faced a lot of backs. The campsite was my only option.”
Living in a tent for months during the winter Sharon was constantly cold, wet and afraid. Her physical and mental health deteriorated, and she began to lose hope.
It was the darkest time in her life, she says, but it’s one that now fills her with great sense of gratitude for the life she has today.
Because for Sharon, everything changed with a phone call from a CEHL housing co-operative.
“I didn’t even have credit on my phone, so I could only receive the call – and thank god I did!”
Sharon didn’t have a car at the time, nor the money for a taxi, so she walked to the town’s local op-shop, looking for something to wear for her interview.
“I met an at elderly lady at the op-shop, who fitted me out with some clothes after I told her my situation. She even found me a clipboard and a pen. I promised her that if I got this home, I’d come back and pay for it.”
And she did. It’s been 14 years now, and Sharon’s life has drastically changed from that day. She’s built her new life and home and has grown more confident and secure with each passing year.
“My little ritual was every pension day I’d pop down to the op-shop and buy something for the home.”
Over the years, Sharon has become an active and valued member of her co-op community. She’s taken on director roles, including maintenance director – a hands-on position she’s found deeply rewarding.
Sharon’s also received two study grants from CEHL, and she attained a dual diploma in social services and case management. “Being able to up-skill has not only made me a better co-op member, but a more confident person,” she says.
Sharon hasn’t forgotten those cold nights in the tent. The experience stays with her, and she often thinks of the growing number of people experiencing homelessness in her community.
“In the winter, I’ll make some soup and bread and drive around some areas I know people sleep rough in. In the summer I make sandwiches instead. It means a lot to me to give back, I know what it feels like to be alone.”
The sense of gratitude she has for her current home runs deep.
“Not a night goes by where I don’t think of my time in the tent, and how grateful I am for this home I have now. If it hadn’t been for this co-op program, I would not be here today.”
