Homeless man given second chance after slipping through the cracks
WHEN Georgios Galanos had a nervous break down, he walked away from his wife and family “slipping through the cracks” to end up homeless for 15 years. But life changed when his car brown down.
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GEORGIOS Galanos’ life fell apart. He found himself travelling the east coast of Australia, living out of his car.
He’d walked away from his marriage, his children, his businesses and friends after a nervous breakdown.
He said he fell through the cracks and doesn’t know how he survives.
When his car broke down in Sydney he ended up staying in a homeless shelter. Within five weeks he had found a place in Liverpool and then connected with Flowerdale Cottage.
“It opened doors for me,” Mr Galanos said.
“I was meeting people and socialising and had help filling out paperwork.
“It was a big weight lifted.”
Mr Galanos said he found his sense of purpose and would wake up knowing he had somewhere to go.
“It provided me with stability and a routine,” he said.
“And I’ve been able to get involved in art therapy here.
“I did a lot of painting when I was homeless but I destroyed probably 300 pieces because I got angry I didn’t have anywhere to put them.”
Mr Galanos said his work now was included in local exhibitions and gave him a platform.
“After my nervous break down, I had to do something, so I taught myself to paint,” he said.
“I’ve found peace with my past and am at a stage where I don’t mind living.
“I look back now and wonder how I was allowed to roam around not monitored. I owe my life to Flowerdale. They’ve given me a second chance at life. It feels like home.”
Flowerdale Cottage manager Kathy Molnar-Simpson said she’d seen huge growth in Mr Galanos.
“A year ago he wouldn’t have gone to a conference with me and spoken about his journey,” she said.
“He did this year.”
Flowerdale Cottage is looking to expand its offerings and help more than 80 additional people from across south western Sydney with their mental health recovery journeys.
Working with Liverpool and Fairfield hospitals, Flowerdale Cottage currently helps 116 people, but that figure is expected to jump to almost 200.
“The arrival of the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) has been a game changer of sorts for Flowerdale Cottage,” Ms Molnar-Simpson said.
“It means we can open our doors further than ever before to support local people who live with mental health issues.
“This marks a significant turning point in the 20 years that Flowerdale Cottage has been operating.”
Flowerdale Cottage offers recovery-orientated day-to-day support. The cottage runs a series of social programs including art classes, community outings and wellbeing education sessions.
“Living with mental health issues can be stigmatising and isolating,” she said.
“Just having somewhere to go and people to interact with can make a staggering difference in terms of recovery.
“Such community based support can often stop people falling through the cracks and turning to
drugs and alcohol, ending up in hospitals and jails and resorting to suicide.”
Mental health
● Flowerdale Cottage helps people with their mental health recovery journey
● Thanks to the NDIS, it will have an additional 80 people
● It is holding an open day on Friday, October 14 from 10am to 2pm
● For more details call 9393 9152 or visit flourishaustralia.org.au
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