Help Daisy regain her footing
Donation protected
Trigger warning for some disturbing content. Surviving Homelessness Due to Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Complex PTSD
Hi, I'm Felicity. I am hosting this page for one of my beautiful sisters life has gifted me. Daisy makes the world better simply by being here and I am asking the world/you support her to gently move forward. With gratitude, Felicity. x
My name is Daisy. Some years ago I entered into a relationship with a man (I'll call him 'Y'). Within a year or two, after his increasingly violent outbursts, I made the hard decision to. I moved to a small country town, and over 18 months, created a simple but pleasant life for myself. Living on Disability Pension was/is difficult but I made it work by being as resourceful as I could to provide for myself.
Around the 15 month mark, Y got in contact with me again. He told me he loved and missed me, had significantly changed, and wanted to start a family with me. Within a short time he convinced me to move back to Melbourne to be with him. I gave up the life I had created and moved back.
The following months were no better: he alienated me from support networks, often took my car leaving me stranded, abused me financially and emotionally. Finally, he raped me when I was at my most vulnerable. He gave me an STD and was even seeing two other women! I was so worn down and broken. Again, I left. Broke, heartbroken, utterly crushed and homeless I placed my two cats in foster care thanks to Pets of the Homeless.
I couch surfed- a night here, a night there - but eventually able to go to a safe women’s refuge. But it wasn’t safe; many other residents were violent, used drugs and were mentally unwell. I was terrified every hour of the day and night. I was now suicidal and was hospitalised in December last year.
Social services helped me understand I had been the victim of domestic violence and sexual assault.
With support, I made the decision to report what happened to the police. What unfolded was worse and contributed further trauma. It took many difficult hours of sharing intensely intimate and emotionally draining details. During the course of the police investigation Y admitted to what he had done in a message to me; at least there was now solid evidence to prosecute him. After many months, I learned that despite the evidence, the police weren’t assured of a positive prosecution, so the charges had been dropped. Despite Y ADMITTING to what he did. As well as the insult to injury that the police had 'forgotten' to inform me of the outcome; the detective had moved jobs and I had to chase them for information. I was devastated.
I was fortunate to find another refuge, which is very different to my first experience. The staff here are fantastic and I am so grateful to have a safe place. This is only meant to be a transitional place while they find me long term affordable housing. I'm on Priority Access Homelessness. I've been here over nine months.
Financially, I am treading water. 60% of my pension goes on my accommodation, the remaining $136 a week goes on repaying debt, storage costs, food, transport, medication, phone etc. There is not enough to provide for myself. Due to CPTSD (amongst other things) I was and still am unable to share house anymore or use Public Transport.
I am drowning but still hopeful. My goal is to try and obtain a phone, laptop and car as these have all died in the past few months. They are my lifelines to receiving mental, physical and social care. I have been borrowing money to buy food, and as a result have some debt I am keen to repay. I am at risk of losing the small amount of personal belongings I have in storage as I am behind in payments. I’ve exhausted all available DV, Housing and Financial assistance options and I have no other back up.
I am desperate to regain some footing. $5,000 -$7,000 would allow me to get through until next year without incurring further debt. By which time, I dearly hope that some normalcy would have returned and maybe, just maybe, some safe, long term, affordable housing will have been found for me where I can again live simply with my cats and my plants and attempt at rebuilding my life and mental health.
Thank You for your time. I hope You and Yours are doing as best as can be in these difficult times and I am grateful for any financial assistance you can offer, no matter how small. It will be life changing for me.
Loving Still,
Daisy.
Hi, I'm Felicity. I am hosting this page for one of my beautiful sisters life has gifted me. Daisy makes the world better simply by being here and I am asking the world/you support her to gently move forward. With gratitude, Felicity. x
My name is Daisy. Some years ago I entered into a relationship with a man (I'll call him 'Y'). Within a year or two, after his increasingly violent outbursts, I made the hard decision to. I moved to a small country town, and over 18 months, created a simple but pleasant life for myself. Living on Disability Pension was/is difficult but I made it work by being as resourceful as I could to provide for myself.
Around the 15 month mark, Y got in contact with me again. He told me he loved and missed me, had significantly changed, and wanted to start a family with me. Within a short time he convinced me to move back to Melbourne to be with him. I gave up the life I had created and moved back.
The following months were no better: he alienated me from support networks, often took my car leaving me stranded, abused me financially and emotionally. Finally, he raped me when I was at my most vulnerable. He gave me an STD and was even seeing two other women! I was so worn down and broken. Again, I left. Broke, heartbroken, utterly crushed and homeless I placed my two cats in foster care thanks to Pets of the Homeless.
I couch surfed- a night here, a night there - but eventually able to go to a safe women’s refuge. But it wasn’t safe; many other residents were violent, used drugs and were mentally unwell. I was terrified every hour of the day and night. I was now suicidal and was hospitalised in December last year.
Social services helped me understand I had been the victim of domestic violence and sexual assault.
With support, I made the decision to report what happened to the police. What unfolded was worse and contributed further trauma. It took many difficult hours of sharing intensely intimate and emotionally draining details. During the course of the police investigation Y admitted to what he had done in a message to me; at least there was now solid evidence to prosecute him. After many months, I learned that despite the evidence, the police weren’t assured of a positive prosecution, so the charges had been dropped. Despite Y ADMITTING to what he did. As well as the insult to injury that the police had 'forgotten' to inform me of the outcome; the detective had moved jobs and I had to chase them for information. I was devastated.
I was fortunate to find another refuge, which is very different to my first experience. The staff here are fantastic and I am so grateful to have a safe place. This is only meant to be a transitional place while they find me long term affordable housing. I'm on Priority Access Homelessness. I've been here over nine months.
Financially, I am treading water. 60% of my pension goes on my accommodation, the remaining $136 a week goes on repaying debt, storage costs, food, transport, medication, phone etc. There is not enough to provide for myself. Due to CPTSD (amongst other things) I was and still am unable to share house anymore or use Public Transport.
I am drowning but still hopeful. My goal is to try and obtain a phone, laptop and car as these have all died in the past few months. They are my lifelines to receiving mental, physical and social care. I have been borrowing money to buy food, and as a result have some debt I am keen to repay. I am at risk of losing the small amount of personal belongings I have in storage as I am behind in payments. I’ve exhausted all available DV, Housing and Financial assistance options and I have no other back up.
I am desperate to regain some footing. $5,000 -$7,000 would allow me to get through until next year without incurring further debt. By which time, I dearly hope that some normalcy would have returned and maybe, just maybe, some safe, long term, affordable housing will have been found for me where I can again live simply with my cats and my plants and attempt at rebuilding my life and mental health.
Thank You for your time. I hope You and Yours are doing as best as can be in these difficult times and I am grateful for any financial assistance you can offer, no matter how small. It will be life changing for me.
Loving Still,
Daisy.
Organizer and beneficiary
Felicity Grosse
Organizer
Northcote, VIC
Daisy Slay
Beneficiary