Alice’s story

Alice’s story

This story is fictional; however, it is the story of many we meet on the streets. This story, in particular, touched me, as it is about a woman that is my age.  It tells a story of how your life can change instantly, and there is nowhere to go.

Alice turned 56 in February; for her birthday, her partner gave her two black eyes. He had beaten her before; the difference this time was she knew if she stayed, the beatings would worsen.  She didn’t want to be a victim of domestic violence; after all, she was now 56; the truth is, though she was scared to leave.

Alice knew that she would be unable to leave with anything; her partner had threatened her previously that he would take everything from her; she didn’t even have a bank account in her name.

Alice and her partner thankfully had no children, and Alice had no close girlfriends. She had lost her job when the pandemic hit Northern Rivers.

With a few dollars in her purse,  an overnight bag stuffed with necessities, Alice fled while her partner was at work.

She tried to park her car in Tweedheads but there were no parking overnight signs everywhere. She ended up having to park in a dull lit backstreet for three months. The Toilet blocks that Alice found were locked at night, and the cold winter nights didn’t help with your dignity, it wasn’t ideal, but at least she had a roof over her head when it was raining.

She knew she couldn’t stay here permanently; the council wouldn’t allow it. She felt useless, isolated and depressed. Alice did not know where to go and what was available.  She was starving; money was almost gone, and eating jam sandwiches twice a day was not enough nourishment.

It was time to drive on, but where would she go? She had no family living in Australia.  She was cold and hungry.

It may have been luck or divine intervention when Alice stumbled into a group of people on private land.  They were homeless and with the growing number of homeless Alice thought later it wasn’t hard to spot them. This organisation with the homeless was  Agape Outreach Inc, and thankfully they had food and clothes and blankets.

Alice came to discover that Agape is not allowed in the parks, Gold Coast Council has introduced fines of $640 per person if you are found to be providing food, clothing and blankets to a person in need on public property.  Agape uses private properties to stop at, even hiring venues to make their 15 min stop legal.

They told Alice about their services, including a Hub facility close to her in Tweed Heads where she could wash her clothes and book in for some counselling from her abusive relationship.  A case manager assigned to Alice would help her with all of those government forms.

Although Alice would remain sleeping in her car, she knew that she would no longer feel alone, her belly was full, and she was warm for the night.

Agape Outreach Inc’s information was helpful; however, although they couldn’t house her, they provided her with something that she has not had in a long time. Companionship and HOPE