Home means everything to Nicole

Published: 

13 January 2021 1:00PM

Home means everything to Stanthorpe resident, Nicole.

“I love the whole house. It’s warm, it’s safe and there’s space, it’s pretty amazing.”

“My home means more than you could ever know,” she says.

Up until a few months ago, Nicole was homeless and living in toilet blocks trying to stay safe and warm. Then during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicole was offered motel accommodation by the Red Cross.

“A lady from the Red Cross helped me into motel accommodation and from there I’ve been helped to find a home and am volunteering at the motel I stayed in so I can get work experience,” says Nicole.

Red Cross representative, Charlene Keller, said, “this was a real team effort – the Department, the motel, the local community, the local Council, and of course Nicole – everyone played their part.”

“Nicole wanted to thank people, and I think the fact that she is now volunteering is a really great reflection on her.”

“When she got an opportunity, she was keen to help out,” said Ms Keller.

Nicole says that the work experience has kept her busy and given her purpose.

“The work at the motel includes gardening and helping to clean the rooms when they are busy. I enjoy gardening and the people are nice and we have a chat when we are working. I’m hoping that from doing this work, I’ll gain confidence and experience to find a job,” says Nicole.

For Nicole, the transition from being homeless and sleeping in toilets blocks, to having her own space has been life changing.

“It’s been great to go from having nowhere to stay and no space that is mine to having a home where I am safe.”

“When I moved into my home, Red Cross helped me get things like a fridge, bed and a microwave which really helped.”

“Some people take things for granted in their life, but this home means everything to me, it’s just beautiful,” says Nicole.