Laurence’s Story: Finding his way home
For more than six years, Laurence called a tent at a local cricket ground on the outskirts of Warrnambool home.
Missing what mattered most
For more than six years, Laurence called a tent at a local cricket ground on the outskirts of Warrnambool home.
Winter after winter, he endured freezing nights and the uncertainty that comes with sleeping rough.
“It was just that cold chill that comes through about 4.30-5 o’clock… that was the worst,” he recalls.
But it wasn’t the cold that stayed with him most. It was missing the people he loved.
“I couldn’t have my daughter over, and I couldn’t call my mum to the campsite.”
Each day followed the same routine. Walking into town for breakfast or a coffee, hoping to find a community shower before returning to his tent. Some days his belongings were still there. Other days they had been stolen or damaged.
Over time, the loneliness became overwhelming.
“It got the better of me. I tried to commit suicide because I was just over it.”
A place to begin again
Following his time in hospital, Laurence was referred through a local rough sleeper program to CatholicCare Victoria and later, referred for a short stay at Peplow House in Ballarat.
“I got a chance to go to Peplow. That made things a lot easier… to get my feet back on the ground.”
For the first time in years, Laurence wasn’t facing each day alone.
The team at Peplow House welcomed him into a community where he could pause, rebuild and look ahead. He made friends, shared meals, took part in daily routines, and participated in alcohol and other drug programs that helped him work towards a brighter future.
I made a lot of good friends at Peplow. It was good having someone to talk to instead of sitting by yourself.
Recovery wasn’t always easy.
“There were days that I wanted to give up… but tomorrow is another day. It’s going to be a better day. But I never gave up hope.”
That hope, together with the support of CCV’s Homelessness and Housing Support team, led Laurence to something he had dreamed about for years.
A home of his own.
Coming home
Laurence received the keys to his new home on his birthday, back in Warrnambool, the region where he grew up.
“It’s been good to come home,” he says.
For the first time since his daughter was a child, he has somewhere to welcome family, celebrate milestones and create new memories.
“My daughter’s due next month… we’ve got a grandchild on the way. I’m glad I never gave up. My daughter and my mum gave me a lot of strength to keep on going.”
Today, Laurence enjoys life’s simple moments. Standing on his back porch, listening to the ocean and knowing his family can visit whenever they like.
“I like the sound of the ocean… it makes me feel back at home. Like peace.”
Laurence’s story is about holding onto hope, even through life’s hardest seasons.
It’s about finding more than a house. It’s about finding a place where family can gather again. And it’s a reminder that home isn’t just where you live. It’s where you belong.
