Celebrating International Youth Day: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

10 Aug 2023

“I came to Australia from the Philippines when I was 10,” Daniel says. “I never felt safe at our house in Australia, and one day – when I was 17 – I came home from school and there was an issue. The situation came to a head. That’s when I decided I’d had enough. That’s when I said, I’m done being treated like this.
 
“I just walked away. I stayed with my aunt for the night, in her shed, but I didn’t really have anywhere to go, anyone to turn to. So, the next day I went to my school and asked my principal for help. They put me in touch with Horizon House, and here I am.”

St John of God Horizon House gives young people who are at risk of homelessness a safe shared home and the space and support they need to build the life they want.

More than just providing somewhere to stay, our Horizon House team works with residents to understand who they are and what they want to do. Then, they work one-on-one to help each young person develop the skills and access the support they need to look after themselves and move on.

“I didn’t know Horizon House was a thing until I came to live here. I wasn’t sure what it was,” Daniel says. “To start with, I was pretty shy. I wasn’t confident in myself. But then, the more people I met here – people like me, with similar stories – the more comfortable and confident I felt.”

Eight months on, given the time, safety and support he needed, Daniel has come a long way from the wary young man who moved in.

“When I first came here, I wasn’t confident talking to people,” Daniel says. “I would stay in my room and wouldn’t come out, not even to eat dinner. 

“But the caregivers are always here for me and have helped me be more independent and come out of my shell – get out of my comfort zone – so I can get out there and be myself.

“I’ve had so much help and support from Horizon House, from things like helping me cook and look after myself to paying the rent and joining a local soccer team. Next, I’m going to give boxing a try.”

And Daniel has his sights set firmly on more of his goals.

“Horizon House is helping me move into my own unit and find a job – full-time, casual, an apprenticeship, anything to get me started and get some work experience,” Daniel says. “But what I want to do in the long run is start my own business. I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur.”

With the right support and encouragement, Daniel has come so far in such a short time. Does he have any advice for young people who find themselves in the same situation as he did?

“I always felt afraid, but I didn’t have to be. I just had to ask for help,” Daniel says. “So, that’s what I’d say: if you’re in a situation like that, don’t be afraid – don’t be afraid to ask for help.”