Julie Sutherland settles in western Sydney after rough start to life
JULIE Sutherland was a habitual offender. She sought refuge in jail from the harsh streets of The Cross by getting caught for unpaid fines or her heroin addiction from the age of 11.
Parramatta
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JULIE Sutherland thanks her lucky stars every day. The 53-year-old now lives in Westmead but life's not always been an easy path to walk.
When her mum left when she was little she acted out and became a habitual offender. From the age of 11 she was in and out of juvenile detention.
“My life rotated around jail. I’d break the law just so I could go back in. It was three meals and somewhere to live.”
She was often locked up for driving offences and refusing to pay the fines. A heroin addiction added to her woes.
She grew up with her dad but lost him when she was behind bars during one of her jail stints. This cycle continued for more than 20 years.
“I had my ‘family’ there, three meals and methadone,” the now 53-year-old said.
When she wasn’t in jail she was homeless on the streets of Kings Cross. She’d sleep on the roof of buildings or in bushes.
“I didn’t really feel anything. I didn’t have time to be scared. I look back now and think I must have been scary looking coming out of the bushes in The Cross,” she said.
She broke that cycle when she connected with Parramatta Mission. They found somewhere for her to live, surrounded her in support services and she’s been able to flourish by studying at TAFE.
For 10 years she was living in a bedsit in a not-so-desirable area. It was tough to make positive choices. For the last five years she’d been visiting Parramatta Mission’s Meals Plus, a free breakfast and lunch program that runs Monday to Friday.
“Having a home gave me back my dignity,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful feeling. Moving to Westmead is the be all and end all. It took all the resources and all the places to join forces to help me.
“It’s been an uphill battle.”
Being settled in her own home has allowed Miss Sutherland to get a pet for the first time in 15 years.
“I haven’t had to be responsible for anything or anyone in all that time. I’m not good at budgeting but having the kitten has helped me,” she said.
Miss Sutherland has kicked her ice habit and has been clean for almost four months.
The 2018 Western Sydney Homeless Connect will take place on Monday, August 6 at Centenary Square, Parramatta.
The annual event is about connecting local service providers with people who are experiencing or at risk of becoming homeless.
The idea is to have all the providers in the one place at the same time to achieve real outcomes.
Details: wshc.com.au