Sean has achieved a lot in a relatively short period of time. From experiencing chronic homelessness to finding safe and secure accommodation to support himself and his two daughters, Sean’s journey into secure housing was supported by a team from Launch Housing and workers from justice and health services coordinating care together.
Getting housing
Sean had been sleeping rough in Melbourne for about three years. He lived in squats and found shelter where he could, sometimes at shopping centres.
It’s not easy sleeping rough. Sean constantly moved around to look for a safe place to sleep, searching for shelter in underground carparks, and would often be told to move by security guards patrolling the area.
Sean wants people to know that rough sleeping is not a choice, either. “We don’t really wake up in the morning and go, ‘I want to sleep on the street tonight,'” explains Sean.
When Sean arrived at Launch Housing’s Southbank Crisis Supported Accommodation in November 2023, he was assigned a case worker and together they focused on his housing goals. Sean’s priority was to find accommodation so his two daughters could visit and stay with him. He also wanted to work on his drug use and find employment.
Sean’s case workers helped him apply for Transitional Housing, and not long after, his application was successful. Sean moved into the property and out of Southbank in December, just in time to spend Christmas with his daughters at the new property.
Using a care coordination approach
Sean had a team of workers, including Launch Housing case management support, corrections officer and drug and alcohol counsellor, to support him achieve his goals.
Sean works with his drug and alcohol counsellor on relapse prevention and participates in a rehabilitation program through Regen. Through this, Sean has developed tools and skills to overcome his addiction.
“The more I can learn the better, especially if things do get tough again, I can sort of fall back on those sort of tools that I’ve learnt, to not use”.
The future looks good
Finding secure housing has been life changing for Sean and his daughters. Getting housing meant Sean can have his daughters stay. In April they spent Easter and the school holidays with him which was a delight. He’s achieved his main goal: A safe and stable home for his daughters to visit, as he reflects:
“Getting this place has been the best.”
Sean and his daughters have settled into a familiar and stable routine of school drops offs and pick-ups. Together they go to the pool at the local park, — something that his daughters look forward to every week.
