“If I have a problem, I know I can just go to ADRA”

When Annie walked through ADRA’s doors for the first time 13 years ago, she was homeless. She had just left an abusive marriage and was alone. 

“When I first went to ADRA, it was because I didn’t have a place to live,” says Annie. “I was on the street. I had nowhere to go.” 

Annie heard about ADRA through the homeless community. Not only did ADRA provide Annie with food support, she was also connected with one of the social workers who helped her access affordable housing. Since then, Annie has been living modestly, but well. She cares for her home and rescue cats with pride, still visiting ADRA for food when her pension doesn’t stretch far enough.

“It’s not always easy to live on what you get in the pension,” Annie says. “Because you’ve got medication, food, transport and all that. It doesn’t always cover everything. But if you are a little bit too short, you just go to ADRA and get help. And that gets me back up again.” 

Annie is among the 3.3 million^* Australians feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis. 

“You go into a supermarket, and everything is higher in prices than it has been before. Same with medication. But (ADRA) helps me with food.”

At 74 years of age, Annie is facing homelessness once again. 

“The biggest worry in my life is whether I can stay in this place,” she says. “I’ve got a little paradise here; I don’t want to be moved out of this. I love going out and cutting the lawn and all that. Keeping it nice and clean and saying, ‘I can look after it.’ It’s private here. I love it. And I wouldn’t like for that to be taken away from me.”

Annie is currently connected with one of ADRA’s social workers who is trying to keep Annie in her home. 

“If I have a problem, I know I can just go to ADRA,” Annie says. “I just pray to God that they do not take (my home) away from me now.”

While Annie’s future is uncertain, she is grateful for the support she has received from ADRA.

“Anyone who is having a problem, go to ADRA, because ADRA has been there for me for over 13 years. I’ve been down so far, you can’t believe it. But they always managed to get a smile on my face and give me a helping hand. Thank you.” 

* As of 2022, 3.3 million people in Australia, including 761,000 children, live in poverty. <povertyandinequality.acoss.org.au/a-snapshot-of-poverty-in-australia-2022/>.