Supporting clients to reconnect with society

3 Mar 2020

28 February 2020 

Andy said having stable accommodation at Casa Venegas gave him a safe environment to allow him to reintegrate back into the community. 

“If I wasn’t living in Casa Venegas, I could have ended up in a boarding house where I could have potentially relapsed," he said.

"Living here has allowed me to get the help I need when I needed it. If I was struggling with medication, the staff could immediately respond."

Andy lives with schizophrenia and did not have housing or support to go to after time as an inpatient.

After being with Casa Venegas for two years, the 62-year-old was able to purchase a commercial van and set-up his own handyman business, and now lives independently in the community. 

The dual stigmatisation of both a mental illness and that of a criminal record often results in economic and social disadvantages when trying to rebuild their lives.

The process of recovery and integrating back into a community can pose significant challenges. 

Casa Venegas provides accommodation and support to people with enduring mental health issues in south western and inner western Sydney, and helps people to overcome the challenges they may face in their recovery journey.

The service helps people with mental health issues who are homeless to transition to independent living through a recovery-based and trauma informed framework.

Andy’s feels one of his biggest achievement has been the ability to work again, which he says would not have been possible without the help of Casa Venegas staff.

“It’s very gratifying to be able to work again and give back to the community,” Andy said.

Andy’s message to others is to simply ask for help when you need it.

“There is help if you ask for it, which is something I didn’t realise," he said.

“I find that if you ask for help, people are happy to respond.”