Missionbeat clients tell their stories

Hayley's story

Hayley* turned to drugs as a way of coping when her parents' marriage was falling apart.

She became addicted to drugs and started experiencing severe mood swings. Fearing for the safety of their two younger children, Hayley’s parents kicked her out of home.

Missionbeat met Hayley earlier this year. We keep a look out for Hayley when patrolling the inner city to see if we can help her find a bed for the night.

"Missionbeat is someone to talk to when there’s no one else."

We are encouraging Hayley to seek help to combat her drug addiction and rebuild the relationship with her family.

Ernie’s story

Until just a few months ago, Ernie* held a steady office job. But after going through a tough time financially, he was evicted from his unit and resorted to sleeping in the office. When management found out, he was fired.

Without family support, Ernie was out on the streets - unemployed, homeless and broke. To make things even more difficult, Ernie has a physical disability and can’t get around without crutches.

"Without Missionbeat I would be a lost soul. They drive me to where I need to go, and are helping me out of my rut. I don’t know if I could cope without their help."

Luke’s Story

Luke* turned to life on the streets when his relationship with his dad turned violent. For several years Luke was reluctant to change his life and accept long-term help. But with persistence, our Missionbeat drivers gradually gained his trust and helped him secure a stable place to live.

"The guys at Missionbeat never gave up on me. They kept coming back to find me, just to check in to see if I was okay. I’ll never forget that."

Today Luke is in long-term housing and is receiving the support he needs to lead a fulfilling life off the streets.