Forbes resident Kerry Willems shared her experience of homelessness at an event hosted by CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes last week to raise awareness of the issue.
Three years ago Kerry Willems was sleeping in her car with no money to buy food, no clothes, and no facilities for personal hygiene.
Kerry, who now lives in Forbes in secure accommodation, still has not forgotten the despair she felt.
Speaking at a Homelessness Week event in Forbes last week hosted by CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes, she said: “Those days are now gone for me, but they will never be forgotten.
“It is still very real and can happen to any one of us at any time.”
She had an “absolutely intoxicating fear of being alone”.
Kerry had always been employed, and even owned a successful florist business in Sydney before she became homeless.
Her experience is not uncommon – the number of homeless people aged 55 years and above increased by 28% between the 2011 Census and the 2016 Census.
“I was one of those statistics,” Kerry said expressing concern about the rates of homelessness among women in that age bracket.
Through CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes, Kerry received accommodation in the women’s refuge, and was able to regain employment.
“Once I was employed, I was able to start applying for private rental properties. I have now been employed for three years with Woolworths and live in my safe little home.”
Kerry said sharing her story meant the world to her. “Sadly, so many people do not have the strength and the courage to get where I am today,” she said.
“I fought my homelessness and won.”