Cassie* was just 17 years old when she was forced to leave home following a breakdown in household relationships made it unsafe to remain there. After spending time couch surfing and living on the streets, a school counsellor suggested she contact Visionwest – within days she had safe and warm accommodation at Whare Hiwa.
Living on the streets was pretty terrifying. I’d been on the streets before, so it wasn’t particularly new to me, but it was still scary. I didn’t have anybody to turn to or anywhere to go. In the past, I’d always been able to return home eventually or figure my way out of the situation but this time, I didn’t see a way out.
It was a counsellor at her school that suggested Cassie contact Visionwest where she was provided with a mentor who listened as Cassie spoke about her home life and the breakdown in relationship that meant she had to leave home.
First, we spoke about where I was at but then, they asked me how I wanted to progress further. That was really nice to hear for once; to have someone asking me what I wanted rather than telling me what I had to do.
Once Cassie had explained that it wasn’t safe and she wasn’t comfortable to returning home, she worked with her mentor on creating a support plan which included finding alternative housing through Visionwest – she was offered a place in Whare Hiwa, one of Visionwest’s youth housing initiatives.
Whare Hiwa provides kaupapa Māori designed housing support for young wāhine who are experiencing homelessness or facing housing insecurity. The live-in supervision includes access to youth mentors who walk alongside each wahine to help them achieve goals relating to self-confidence, stability and employment.
Before I moved into Visionwest housing it was very difficult for me to navigate school life and life in general. I had all my belongings with me in a massive bag that I’d carry around throughout the school day. That caused me a lot of physical pain and it was embarrassing. I felt shame in the idea that I’m showing the world what it’s really like living in these difficult environments without help.
Moving into Whare Hiwa and going into a new school year was so much better for my mental health. I finally felt I could go to school, focus on the work I had to do there, and come home to a safe place. No longer did I feel anxious about the last bell ringing when I’d have to decide, ‘Where am I going to go next? Where am I going to be sleeping tonight?’
Cassie’s move to Whare Hiwa
Cassie’s move into Whare Hiwa coincided with her birthday. She describes it as the best gift she could have ever asked for with the people who were there to support her being the loveliest people she’d ever met.
The Visionwest mentors took time to ensure Cassie was comfortable moving into her new accommodation and that she had everything she needed both emotionally and physically to settle in. As she reflects on this time, Cassie is thankful to her mentor and says how beneficial it was to feel like she was moving into a home where she belonged and didn’t have to feel scared tiptoeing around those she lived with.
When I moved into Whare Hiwa, it was the first time I’ve ever felt like I was home and that I was in a place I truly belonged.
I feel like, throughout my life, a lot of decisions about my future have been made for me and, unfortunately, I never really got the opportunity to decide my own path. The thing is, I was always having to please other people. It was refreshing to know that people wanted to hear my story and do something about it rather than not listening to what I say and immediately disregarding me. It was nice just to hear that they wanted to do something about my life and that they wanted to assist in making sure I was safe and had all the things I needed.
Looking back on her first few months living in Whare Hiwa, Cassie describes it as, ‘amazing,’ and, ‘just the best experience.’
The people I’m living with are just the most incredible people. We come from very diverse backgrounds with the one thing we have in common being that we all want to change our lives and, once we leave Whare Hiwa, be better and more productive people. And we can do that now that we have the tools and necessities, we need to find success in life and are living the lives that we deserve to be able to live and not feeling constricted by circumstances outside of our control.
Cassie says her schooling is going amazing also. She’s excelling in all her classes and feels a clarity in her mind which means she’s able to focus on doing homework and other things when she comes home rather than worrying.
It’s so freeing to know I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to balance my time between schooling and trying to navigate all the other situations swirling around me. Whare Hiwa gives me a safe place to be able to freely express myself and a quiet place to be able to come back and relax.
Cassie’s future aspirations
Because of the support of Visionwest and being able to get back on track with her schooling, Cassie will be able to go university next year. She’s enrolling to study for a degree in communications, majoring in journalism, a dream she’s held for a long time.
Furthering her education has always been a huge goal for Cassie and now that seems achievable. Just a few months ago, she felt her life was devoid of future opportunities; today she has hopes and dreams that feel attainable.
She’s also working on a documentary, a sign of her passion for media studies and journalism.
As media studies students, we make documentaries and so I’m currently making one on my journey into Visionwest and how the different programmes here have helped me in terms of housing and food supply, and just been able to better my life from the dark place that was the end of last year.
Having the opportunity through school to express the things I went through in a safe environment has propelled me forward and motivated me to share my story and help other people to know that they are not alone. There are places out there that they can go to for help.
Cassie’s thoughts on youth homelessness
Cassie also has some thoughts about youth homelessness and the need to respond in a compassionate and understanding way.
People don’t always get it that there are many youths out there who have grown up in environments that they cannot control; at the end of the day, a lot of them are children. I find it ironic that there are people who live in a place of privilege and then to say to people in need, ‘It’s your fault.’ That’s victim-blaming.
I want anyone out there who relates to my story and has been made to feel their entire life – as I have – that’s it’s their fault to know, it’s not. It’s not your fault. You didn’t get a choice in your life. So often it’s the people around them and their environment that shape the way rangatahi are and the opportunities they have to transform their lives. We need to do better as a society and as a country to ensure everybody is on the same playing field; that no one has an advantage over another person just based on their social or demographic background.
Cassie goes on to point out that homelessness doesn’t just affect young people; it touches all people and can affect anyone.
We get nowhere by ignoring the issues. We need to acknowledge them and teach them a way to speak and be heard.
As somebody who has been silenced my entire life and has wanted nothing more than to speak on these issues, especially someone who loves journalism, political journalism particularly, it’s incredibly motivating to see other young people speaking out about their experiences and to see young people in my life who have also suffered the same issues as me finally talking about their lives – that’s definitely inspired me to want to do the same.
Read another inspirational Visionwest story.
Find out more about Visionwest’s youth housing initiatives.
*We understand that it is a great privilege when someone generously agrees to share their story. This blog and other material is shared with “Cassie’s” permission and we thank her for her generosity and courage. We have changed her name for privacy reasons.