Glen’s Story: Learning that he was worth a better life 

A childhood that shaped everything

The smiling, quick-witted 53-year-old welcoming visitors into his home today is a long way from the frightened 13-year-old who walked away from everything he knew. 

Growing up, Glen experienced years of abuse, neglect and rejection from the people who should have made him feel safe. Although he always appeared polite and cheerful to the outside world, the trauma of those early years stayed with him, shaping his mental health, his relationships and his struggles with addiction for decades to come. More than anything, Glen says he simply wanted to feel accepted.  

Over the years, Glen drifted in and out of homelessness. There were periods where he rebuilt his life, serving in the military, raising a family and finding steady work. But unresolved trauma continued to pull him backwards, and addiction became a way of escaping the pain he had carried since childhood. By the time he connected with CatholicCare Victoria (CCV), he had spent more than 12 years sleeping rough and had reached the point where he couldn’t imagine surviving another winter.

Someone believed in him

Life on the streets meant never truly feeling safe. Glen rarely slept through the night, often tying his belongings to his leg with rope so he would wake if someone tried to steal them. Over the years, everything he owned was stolen dozens of times, yet despite the hardship, he never lost his compassion for the people around him. 

“They’re not dumb… they just chose to get away from life for a minute,” he says. “Just because we’re homeless doesn’t mean we have to be dirty.”  

When Glen was referred to CCV, he expected another organisation that would make promises but never follow through. 

“To my surprise… they actually did care.”  

The CCV team worked alongside other local services to help Glen find stable housing and access the support he needed. But for Glen, the biggest change wasn’t simply having somewhere to live. It was learning to see himself differently. 

Reflecting on the support of his case worker, Isabella, Glen says, “She showed me that I was worth it.”  

After a lifetime of believing he wasn’t enough, someone finally helped him believe he deserved a better future. That belief became the foundation for everything that followed. 

A future worth believing in

Today, Glen has a place to call home and is rebuilding relationships with his family. Becoming a grandfather has given him a renewed sense of purpose and joy. 

“I’ll tell you what, my heart melts every time I see him,” he says.  

Grateful for the support he received, Glen is now an active member of CatholicCare Victoria’s Homelessness Advisory Team, using his lived experience to support others and challenge the stigma surrounding homelessness. He wants people to understand that homelessness does not define someone’s character and that compassion can make all the difference. 

Looking ahead, Glen hopes to become a full-time advocate for people experiencing homelessness, using his own journey to help others find hope, just as he did. 

Glen’s story is about discovering that the abuse he experienced never defined who he was. 

It’s about finding the courage to believe he was worthy of kindness, hope and a better future. 

And it’s about using his own journey to help others believe that, no matter where life begins, it’s never too late to rebuild.