Katrina had heard about Visionwest’s housing services because people she knew had received support and raved about it. However, even though she was in emergency housing herself, until a WINZ worker suggested she call Visionwest Community Housing, it had never occurred to Katrina to make contact. Now she’s glad she did.
Katrina: “I went to the first Visionwest interview and met Sally [Visionwest Tenancy Manager]. I was nervous, but I thought, ‘Be straight up and honest.’ That was probably the best thing. We had a good connection after that.”
Katrina talks about her life coming out of addiction and never really being able to settle. For about a decade she had no real place to call home and had come to a point which she describes as, ‘tired in life.’
Katrina: “I just had enough. Kana and I were just becoming a relationship. That was cool but, our lives were going to go anywhere, we needed to figure ourselves out.”
Kana: “I actually owned a house once, but mental health issues meant I ended up in Hillmorton Hospital. During that process, I sold my house and spent all my money; basically because I was angry at the world. Then I met Katrina and we began our journey together.”
Katrina: “Once we were in this house and we had good support systems around us, thanks to Visionwest, our lives started changing for the better. It was having people who related with no judgement, just understanding and guidance.
For Katrina, the next part of her journey is to sort out her career. She’d like that to involve helping others. Having struggled with addiction, trauma and mental health and come out the other side, she feels ready to begin helping others in the community.
Katrina: “I see a future now. If I’d been asked about it five years ago, I wouldn’t have known where to start. Honestly, my prospects were jail, getting myself killed with addictions, or something like that. But I see a future now.”
Kana: “I’m just trucking along being the daddy and a hubby. That’s my life, sharing my faith and bringing up our family together.
Continuing to reflect on the support they’ve received, Katrina has some encouraging words for Visionwest staff and donors.
Katrina: “I want to say to everyone at Visionwest, keep doing what you’re doing because everything you do helps people like us to get where we need to be. Without Visionwest and their donors, we couldn’t have been here.