Ann-Marie had always been the one others relied on. She raised a large family with strength and resilience, even while enduring years of domestic violence. Finding the courage to start again, she moved to Victoria with her new partner, determined to rebuild their lives. But despite her determination, life began to unravel in ways she never expected.

Work dried up. Their rental home was sold. With no safety net, they found themselves living between a car and a caravan, doing whatever they could to survive.

“It was minus four degrees some nights,” she recalls. “For the first time ever, I couldn’t see a way out.”

When her partner later suffered a major stroke, everything felt overwhelming.

Through CatholicCare Victoria, a door finally opened, providing stable housing and wrap-around support.

Today, Ann-Marie has something she once feared was impossible: stability, support, and a permanent roof over her head.

Stories like Ann-Marie’s remind us that homelessness can happen to anyone. With your support, CatholicCare Victoria can help people find safety, rebuild their lives, and rediscover the dignity and stability of a place to call home.