Layla: Planning for a Future with Hope

Layla* was 11 years old when she first experienced homelessness. Living with her mother, who was struggling with substance abuse, home was anything but stable. “Due to my mother’s behaviour I did not feel safe in the house as my mum would kick me out and then let me back, I never knew what to expect, so I started couch surfing at friends’ places, telling their parents that mum was working late so they did not ask questions.” 

At 14, child protective services placed Layla with her father, but that home was also unsafe. With no money, no job, and no family support, homelessness posed a very real challenges for a teenager. “I tried to keep going to school however the unstable housing and lack of appropriate supports made it really hard – I eventually could no longer attend. Due to my age, I was excluded from the private rental market, and I couldn’t get a job. I had to rely on the building of relationships with other adults to assist me in accessing the things I needed. Having to rely on other people made me vulnerable and made me have to navigate complex relationships to ensure I had a roof over my head and access to basics such as food.” 

Layla first heard of Hope Street at 16, pregnant with her son, and homeless again after fleeing family violence. “I had to leave the house to protect myself and my unborn son. A friend stepped up and allowed me to stay with her, but this was not a long-term solution. While at a Headspace appointment, I found the Hope Street First Response Youth Mobile Outreach Service number and grabbed it just in case, if life had taught me anything by this point, it was to try to be as prepared as possible.” 

After being placed in hotel accommodation by a homelessness worker, the First Response Mobile Outreach Team came to visit. “The next day I walked to Hope Street’s offices and met with the team. They assisted with a referral to a refuge, where I stayed for a few nights. From there I went to stay with a friend for a week, and during this time a referral was made for me to join the Hope Street in Melton program.” Within a month, Layla signed a lease and moved into her own supported transitional housing unit. 

Her son was born just before her 17th birthday, and with that, the survival strategies she had relied on were no longer enough. “It’s really hard to be a single mum at my age as I can’t access all the things you need to create a stable home environment for my child, such as housing, without the support of programs like Hope Street.” 

Reflecting on her journey, Layla is clear about what made the difference. “During my time experiencing homelessness, I learnt the importance of having the support of services who listen to my needs and respect what I have to say. It’s also really important to have my supports come together and communicate regularly to make sure my goals are at the front of the plan. I led my plan and know I can change my plan whenever needed to suit me and my son’s life.” 

“I have learnt there are lots of gaps in services and many people who experience the things I have experienced, are left unsupported. If I had the opportunity to live in a supported environment like Hope Street when I was 11, things would be a lot different.” 

“Hope Street provides my son with a house, a future, and me, his mum, as without the housing I may not have been able to have my son in my care. I love my son. Being a mum is hard, but I look at him and he is such a good kid, I know I must be doing something right.” 

With Hope Street’s support, Layla is focused on building a future that looks very different from her past. “I am working hard to take all the opportunities presented to me to provide for myself and my son. I am completing VCAL with the plan to study hairdressing and beauty services. My goal is to own my own business and provide a safe, stable and loving environment for my son.” 

*Name changed to protect privacy.