Couch surfing can hide homelessness

by Emma Ballingall “Be aware there’s a lot of homeless in the area and that it can happen to anyone. Nobody is excluded from it. You don’t even realise it, until you’re there.”

This is the key message from Gippsland resident Paul Turenko who is helping to break down the stereotype of a “homeless man” by sharing his story.

He didn’t sleep on or under a park bench. He didn’t beg on the streets. He speaks and presents well. And he is the face of a mostly unseen homeless problem facing Gippsland.

It was just five years ago that a series of events left Paul without a roof over his head and forced to sleep on friend’s couches.

“I never thought I’d be in that position of having to ask for government housing,” he said. “There’s a number of things that put you in that position. It’s a series of events, not just one thing. And then, you just give up.”

For Paul, the death of his mother, family moving interstate and a relationship breakdown all contributed together with an ankle injury suffered in a motorbike accident.

With the injury limiting work opportunities in his job field, Paul quickly fell on hard times.

As an older independent man, Paul said one of the hardest steps was asking for help.

“Nobody wants to do that, especially when you’re older,” he said. “But you came to the realisation that you do need help.”

A couple of friends let him “couch surf” but Paul said “I felt bad for doing it”.

“For them, I would have done the same thing. “But it’s very easy to overstay your welcome in some respects.”

Living in Morwell, Paul eventually gained a place on the propriety list for government housing. However, it was a further 12 months until a housing opportunity was offered in Traralgon.

From his experience, Paul emphasised there were “endless reasons” why people faced being homeless.

“I’ve witnessed so many situations. I’m sure there’s other blokes and women in the same position. There’s many different ways that people end up homeless.”

Now finding work opportunities “here and there” and with safe, secure and affordable housing, Paul shared his story with The Gazette to raise community awareness on World Homeless Day in Drouin last Tuesday.

Paul was busy cooking a barbecue in Drouin with Quantum Support Service to draw attention to homeless people’s needs in the local area and urging the community to get involved in ending homelessness.

His message for those facing homelessness was keep going to the various support agency offices, hand in all your paperwork and follow up.

“It all makes a big difference,” said Paul.