Shane’s story

Shane experienced homelessness for almost four years until he found Launch Housing.

Being transient for that length of time is traumatic enough. And he lived through it all half blind. As you can imagine, this would make life very difficult.

Shane lost his job in 2010 when his eyesight prevented him from working anymore. He then experienced homelessness.

“I felt isolated, alone and worthless… I wasn’t communicating with my daughter at the time. I was just too embarrassed.”

He moved from one friend’s couch to another for years. In 2014 he wound up sleeping in a wardrobe in the front yard of a vacant home.

Once the home was ready for tenants, the real estate agent moved him off the property. Shane then made his bed at an old city tram stop in Melbourne and stayed there for the next four months.

Sleeping rough is a dangerous and often traumatising experience. This was true for Shane, who had vision in just one eye.

“Without Launch Housing and your kind donations, I don’t know where I’d be.”

Unfortunately, we know that death is a real concern for many people who sleep rough. We know that the longer people remain on the streets, the worse their health becomes and the closer they move to an early death.

Launch Housing exists to end homelessness by getting people into housing.

When Shane was able to access the housing and health supports provided by Launch Housing’s crisis accommodation in Southbank, the first thing he did was call his daughter.

Thanks to the support of people like you Shane is now in long term accommodation and has worked hard to rebuild the relationship with his daughter.