What was life like before you found a home with Common Ground Queensland?
My life was hard. I was vulnerable, and living in a hotel with a 6-week old newborn baby. I didn’t feel safe.
After I had my baby, we had just come out of a domestic violence relationship and were staying at a motel in Kangaroo Point. It just wasn’t safe for me and my newborn.
I had experienced homelessness on and off after being released from prison in late 2021, moving around from hotel to hotel.
A lot of keeping people out of prison has to do with stable housing, so that people aren’t going back to unsafe environments.
Can you describe the feelings you felt when you got the call?
When I got the call to say that I was approved for Supportive Housing and that within a week, I’d be moving into my very own home, I felt like I had won the lotto!
I was also relieved, knowing that I was going to have a stable roof over me and my newborn’s heads.
I felt safe knowing that I could start rebuilding our lives and concentrate on being a mother to my newborn, without the stressors of housing uncertainty, like having to move to another hotel.
That call was the first door and first big step for me to rebuild my life after prison.
How does having a place to call home feel, especially with a kid?
It feels amazing and it’s the little things that matter to me. We’ve been in our place now for three years, and it’s the longest that I can remember being in one place.
My son has been in the same daycare now since he was a year old. He’s turning 4 soon, and to be able to stay in the same childcare, form bonds with his educators and make new friends has given him and I the stability to look after and take care of our home.
The stability allows me to focus on other things and tick off the goals in my list one by one. I was able to get a car and pay off $18,000 in SPER debt. None of this would have been possible if I was homeless.
I’ve also been able to reconnect with my daughter, who comes over for dinner and a sleepover every week. That stability has allowed my daughter to get her mum back.
I’ve also been able to reconnect with my family, my mum and my three sisters. Being able to have family gatherings again is beautiful, and is something that I could not have done without the help of this program. It changes lives.
Are there any challenges you face at the moment?
The only challenge I really find is that sometimes I get a bit lonely. But the Micah Projects team are really strong supports that help me with whatever I need.
My son is getting tested for autism at the moment, and the Micah Projects team stepped in to support and refer me to the right help and services.
They are always checking in on me too. The stability that comes with having the same support workers is great for building trust over time and it’s just amazing to have them as a stable presence in my life.
Now that I’ve got a solid foundation, I’ve started to work on myself as a person. When I was homeless, I thought ‘what was the point?. I’ve now grown to love and respect myself for everything that I’ve been through.
Is there something you’d like to say to other mums who are in a similar position as you were?
As hard it is to wake up everyday, don’t give up hope, and don’t give up on yourself. You can fight and you can get your children back.
It can take a lot of work and it is absolutely hard, but it can be done. I know it’s hard that mums are out there, unable to see their kids but with the right support and stable housing, change is possible.
I think it’s important for mothers to know that they are not alone. This program helps mothers get their children back. It gives you the ability to start your recovery journey and gives you a solid foundation to rebuild your life in the way that you want it.
It is hard, and it is lonely but there is support out there, and opportunities to make the program work for you, if you put in the work and want change for yourself.
Written 2026
