When Annie walked through ADRA Blacktown’s doors for the first time 13 years ago, she was homeless. She had just left an abusive marriage and was on her own for the first time in 20 years.
“When I first went to ADRA, it was because I didn’t have a place to live,” says Annie. “I was on the street. I had nowhere to go.”
Annie heard about ADRA through other people in the homeless community. Not only did ADRA provide Annie with food support, but Annie was connected with one of the social workers who helped her access affordable housing. Since then, Annie has been living modestly, but well. She cares for her home and rescue cats with pride, and still visits ADRA for food support when her pension doesn’t stretch far enough to cover all her expenses.
“It’s not always easy to live on what you get in the pension,” Annie says. “Because you got medication and you got food, you got transport and all that. So it doesn’t always cover everything, in the pension. But if you are a little bit too short, you just go to ADRA and get help. And that then gets me back up again.”
Annie is among the millions* of Australians feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis.
“You go into a supermarket, everything is higher in prices than it has been before. Same with medication. But (ADRA) helps me with food. They help me with any problems I have in the area.”
But at 74 years of age, Annie is facing homelessness once again.
“The biggest, biggest worry in my life is whether I can stay in this place,” Annie says. “I’ve got a little paradise here; I don’t want to be moved out of this. It’s largely at the back, I don’t get bothered by anyone. I love going out and cut the lawn and all that. Keep it nice and clean and say, ‘See, I can look after it.’ It’s private here. I love it. And I wouldn’t like for that to be taken away from me.”
Annie is currently connected with one of ADRA’s social workers who is helping her navigate the housing systems in an effort to keep Annie in her home.
“If I have a problem, I know I can just go to ADRA like I’m doing at the moment,” Annie says. “I just pray to God that they do not take that away from me now. I mean, I’m 74, so please let me live longer in here.”
“Anyone who is having a problem, I can give you the advice to go to ADRA, because ADRA has been there for me for over 13 years. And that I’ve been down in the ground so far, you can’t believe it. But they always managed to get a smile on my face and give me a helping hand. Thank you.”
In 2023, ADRA Blacktown provided over 40,000 meals to people like Annie who would otherwise go hungry. With the impact of the cost-of-living crisis being felt nationwide, the demand for ADRA’s support services has never been higher. The ADRA Appeal takes place in Adventist churches during October and is the main source of funding for ADRA’s Australian programs. Your donation before October 31 can help Aussies in need, just like Annie, with food relief, housing support, and a safe place to go. To support ADRA projects in Australia donate at adra.org.au/donate, to support ADRA Community Centre Blacktown.
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