Meet Sarah:
Stability through the Youth Housing Initiative
At just 20, *Sarah’s life had already been marked by more hardship than most people experience in a lifetime. She had known a “good life” once, but it had been shattered by family violence, assault, and drug use. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she carried the heavy weight of grief for the person she used to be. Adding to her struggles, she was trapped in a violent relationship that she desperately wanted to leave, but it wasn’t as simple as walking away. Emotionally and practically, the obstacles were immense.
Before finding her way to the Youth Housing Initiative (YHI), Sarah had bounced between refuges, seeking safety wherever she could. Despite everything, she showed remarkable resilience, managing to hold down a job in Werribee even while living in a refuge miles away in Rosanna. It was during this time that Sarah was referred to YHI.
The program seemed like a chance to stabilise her life, and when assessed, she was placed in shared housing, where she could have a roof over her head and access to the support she desperately needed.
Sarah engaged with the YHI team right away, connecting with a therapeutic practitioner who helped guide her through some of the more difficult parts of her journey. But it wasn’t a smooth road. Her progress often felt like two steps forward, one step back. Mental health struggles, the shadow of substance use, and family violence kept pulling her down just as she tried to rise. Yet there were glimmers of hope. Sarah began receiving Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) to help her manage her thoughts of self-harm, and for the first time in a while, she felt a sense of relief. She engaged well in the therapy, and her responses were positive.
However, the shared housing arrangement wasn’t quite right for her anymore. As her support needs became clearer, it was obvious she needed something different—something quieter and safer, where she could focus on herself. The team at YHI identified Sarah as a strong candidate for transfer to a property in Werribee that offered single-occupancy housing and closer staff support. It was a better fit for where she was on her recovery journey.
YHI’s trauma-informed, multi-disciplinary approach was making a difference. Over time, Sarah’s mental health began to stabilise. There were still struggles of course, but there was also progress toward a safer and more secure future.
Meet Sienna:
The power of safety and hope
"When I came to Frontyard, I wasn’t expecting much, just a place to sleep and perhaps some food. But the staff gave me so much more. They showed me a way out. For the first time, I think my life can be different and, maybe, I can be happy." – Sienna, aged 16
For *Sienna, violence was a daily reality, something she believed was just part of life. Growing up in a violent home, she learned early to hide and stay quiet. One of her earliest memories is of huddling behind a washing machine, trembling as her mother stormed through the house.
She was only four.
As she got older, Sienna would sometimes run away, finding the streets more predictable than her own home. She carried a sense of guilt, convinced it was her fault her mother was angry. It didn’t occur to her that she was homeless; all she knew was that she had no safe place to go.
When she finally came to MCM’s Frontyard Youth Services, Sienna was just looking for a place to sleep. Staff at Frontyard provided her with a warm bed and a meal that first night, but they saw she needed more—a way out, a chance to feel safe.
That’s when Hannah, a dedicated caseworker, came into Sienna’s life. With patience and empathy, Hannah helped Sienna open up about her experiences. As they talked, it became clear that what Sienna longed for was a life free from fear.
Sienna had an older brother, David, who had left home years before. Hannah managed to find him, and when David learned of his sister’s situation, he didn’t hesitate. He welcomed her into his home, providing her with the stability she’d been searching for.
Today, Sienna is living with her brother’s family, enrolled in a local school, and beginning to make friends. She’s slowly realising that her past does not define her, and that the violence was never her fault.
Sienna’s story, once filled with fear, is now one of hope.
Meet Amber:
The power of new beginnings
*Amber, a devoted mother, made the courageous choice to leave her violent partner to protect her five-year-old daughter, Maisie. With nowhere safe to go, Amber and Maisie began living in their car.
Each day was a struggle to shield Maisie from the harsh reality of their situation while finding safe places to sleep. Amber was desperate to provide her daughter with stability, especially with school approaching.
“Those nights in the car—I was terrified and felt completely lost. When MCM found us a place to stay, I could finally breathe again. It felt like our chance to start over,” Amber recalls.
When Amber reached out to Melbourne City Mission (MCM), our team found short-term accommodation, giving them safety and comfort after weeks of uncertainty. From there, MCM provided food, toiletries, and emotional support, helping Amber take the first steps toward rebuilding her life.
Now in more stable accommodation, Amber is working with MCM to secure a permanent home and ensure Maisie has the best possible start to her school journey.
Every day, families like Amber’s face unimaginable challenges. Your support helps MCM provide emergency housing, essential resources, and long-term solutions for families in crisis.
*Disclaimer: The images used may be AI-generated and do not depict real people. They are used for illustrative purposes only and to protect the privacy of the people we work with.
Names have also been changed to protect privacy.
