- June 20, 2021
“When I was 20 I was very ill in hospital. I had blood transfusions, which I now know were tainted with Hepatitis C. After that I never felt ‘right’ – I got bouts of depression, tiredness and malaise. If I tried to work full time I got so tired I would fall asleep as soon as I got home so I couldn’t afford to get a place to rent normally. Luckily I discovered squatting, which allowed me to continue my studies while not paying rent, which was a help. Where we were squatting had no hot water and only an old toilet at the end of the yard and once there was a lot of rain and the kitchen ceiling collapsed. Another place I lived in only had one tap for six old three-storey houses. But we had a community of sorts. The problem was never knowing when you would be kicked out so you could never settle down, relax or plan your future well. Eventually I got well but I lost many years due to the depression and tiredness, plus a bout of drug addiction, which I also recovered from; which was a big effort. All this happened when I was young but now that I am middle-aged I do fear for the future for myself and others. So now I am volunteering to support homeless women.” – Victoria