Before finding life-changing support, Lauren was homeless and suffering from mental health issues and alcohol addiction.
“I was drinking everyday due to my childhood trauma and DV. I felt worthless and hopeless so I called Detour House for help. They were so wonderful with their support and were well trained in the trauma that I had experienced and put in a great treatment plan for me to deal with my issues,” Lauren tells Women’s Agenda.
Located in Sydney, Detour House is a three-month alcohol and drug-recovery program and safe-place for women like Lauren to be supported as they transition to independent living, reducing the risk of relapse and homelessness.
Women are particularly vulnerable to housing insecurity, and older women are the fastest growing group of Australians facing homelessness.
“A lot of the women I was in the program with were trying to get their children back and had been through domestic violence, and then they’d be put out on the street again because there was not enough housing and temporary accommodation,” Lauren says. “It’s unsafe drug use and violence in those places.”
Just last week, new transitional housing for women, including trans and non-binary individuals, opened up in Sydney, furthering the support provided with Detour House.
Called Step Out House, the residential program provides housing for residents for up to 12 months and gives them personalised support to secure long-term accommodation while continuing their journey to recovery in a nurturing environment.
The project has been made possible thanks to a grant of $463,716 from the Minns Labor Government’s $100 million Homelessness Innovation Fund, which provides grants to accredited homelessness services and registered Community Housing Providers, or Aboriginal Community Housing Providers.
Formerly a hard-to-rent property in inner Sydney, Step Out House has also been delivered in partnership with Detour House, Bridge Housing and Homes NSW.
Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Mental Health Rose Jackson visited the site last week and met with Lauren, who is volunteering at Step Out House and transforming her own lived experience into a way to help other women with their recovery.
“Because I’ve been through it all myself for quite a few years, I love giving back to the new ladies to let them know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” says Lauren.
“With the care and compassion from step out House and Detour House we can all trust in the program and staff with other women and become contributing members of society in a safe environment and work on our past issues together.”
Speaking to the impact of a service like Step Out House on women’s lives, Minister Jackson said “safe and stable housing is the foundation for longstanding change”.
“Services like Step Out House provide women the chance to rebuild their lives with dignity and support,” she says.
“No one should have to choose between recovery and a roof over their head. We know that people living in secure accommodation with wrap around services are more likely to transition into long term, stable housing.”
“Meaningful housing reform is about delivering tailored solutions. This service meets people where they are and supports them on their journey to recovery.”
Become a Women’s Agenda Foundation member and support our work! We are 100% independent and women-owned. Every day, we cover the news from a women’s perspective, advocating for women’s safety, economic security, health and opportunities. Foundation memberships are currently just $5 a month.
Bonus: you’ll receive our weekly editor’s wrap of the key stories to know every Saturday.