"Thanks to you, we have a place to call home"

When a family is torn in two, the comfort and familiarity of home is often the only place kids can feel safe – with their own room and their own space, where they can play, relax and come to terms with change.

But when Kevin’s* partner, and mum to Mia* and Sam*, walked out one night and never came back, Kevin and his kids didn’t just lose her, they lost their home.

Kevin’s partner stopped paying her half of the rent, and Kevin struggled to meet payments on a single income. The rent fell way behind and this heartbroken little family was evicted.

They asked extended family for help, but the house they stayed in was overcrowded and relationships with relatives quickly became strained. With everything they had been through, the kids were really feeling the pressure. Kevin struggled to get Sam* to go to school and stay a whole day. The family was at breaking point.

Kevin was absolutely desperate when he came to Hutt St Centre. Fortunately, thanks to the support of caring South Australians like you, he was quickly connected with Case Manager, Karen* who immediately swung into action.

The immediate need was safe emergency accommodation to give Kevin and the kids independence and peace. They moved to a small motel room with space for the children to go and play outside, which gave Kevin some time out, too.

Vital counselling support was provided to Sam* and Kevin*, to help Sam cope with the changes he faced and support Kevin in his parenting. Together, they implemented
strategies to get Sam* back to regular school attendance.

Then, working with the SA Housing Authority, Karen found Kevin and his kids a new home, along with furniture to set up for a new future.

The family received access to financial counselling, a Mental Health Care Plan and much needed counselling for the children. Now, with long-term Case Manager support, Kevin and the kids are on a permanent path out of homelessness.

“It was so good to get into our own home again after months of living with other people or in the motel.

When my partner left I really had no idea how much it was going to affect our lives. I don’t know where we’d be today without Hutt St.

On behalf of my kids, especially, to all the wonderful people who make donations, thank you so much.”

 

Back to Word from the Street, Autumn 2020

 

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of people who have kindly allowed us to share their story