McCormack housing
Stories of Success
McCormack Housing has changed lives by providing homes for tenants to thrive.
With permission, we share their stories.
“I admire McCormack Housing for the sensational help they have provided me with.
I am a 48-year-old father of 3 children, and they are currently in the care of my ex-wife, she lives in the marital home we built 16 years ago.
We were married for 16 years and I must admit the last 12 of those years were extremely toxic for the both of us. We loved each other dearly but the fact that her family would push her to make her argue with me over religion was disappointing as I am a very religious Greek orthodox male who has a grandfather that is a Priest, so I grew up within the church. At times our arguments would become very heated, and I would lose my temper.
My Mental Health deteriorated, and the Police would arrive and give me no more than 5 minutes to grab some clothes and I would be taken to the Police station for processing. I would be served with an intervention order making me unable to return back home. I would generally sleep in my vehicle the first night and then go to Vinnie’s so they could place me into Crisis Accommodation.
These places were extremely dirty and were infested with people smoking ice in the lounge room, yelling, and screaming and music on in the middle of the night was a normal occurrence and your food and anything not locked away would be eaten or stolen. Many times, my ex-wife would vary the restraining order so I could see my 3 children. I can recall over 12 times where my ex-wife would come to visit me in these putrid places, and we would make a decision to get back together, and I would move back home for the wrong reasons. After 4 to 6 month’s history would repeat itself and we would get into severe intense arguments and the Police would arrive and arrest me and place an intervention order on me.
I also tried living in places that Landlords offer share room places on Gumtree, but they are generally overcrowded and run down so, I ended up going back home.
I needed my own space, I needed time out, I could not afford the first 4 weeks in advance and a bond within the thousand dollars and eventually my mental health, alcohol and drugs got the better of me and a severe argument with my ex-wife landed me in Prison for 4 years.
I was released from Prison close to 2 months ago. I feel like I am the luckiest man alive as McCormack Housing has put me up in a nice cosy unit in Moe. I have found my peace and quiet. I make my own decisions and I have never been so relaxed as before I was just waiting for the next episode to occur. I don’t need to return back to my ex-wife’s house because I have a safe and comfortable little Castle were I can cook my Greek cuisines and pray and listen to our church hymns without anybody Interrupting me.
Being on Parole is scary no matter what but thank God for McCormack Housing my saviours who have placed me in a quiet beautiful warm place and have given me the hope for my future. Furthermore, I eventually will find my own little place in order to give someone else the opportunity that I have had but I know I will be in a much better place when that time comes and with the help of McCormack Housing this will be made possible.
For now, I will keep going with my psychologist that I have been seeing, my lovely psychiatrist who has tweaked my meds, keep seeing my main Doctor and look forward to my Alcohol and Drug worker who I speak to on a weekly basis.
I am in a great place because of McCormack Housing, and I thank you so much for providing me with exactly what I needed, a Safe place to live. God Bless the organisation Amen”
After spending 15 years in prison. Story A joined the McH Gippsland Housing Program back in February 2020
Participant A managed to complete a Certificate IV in Business Management whilst coping with cancer treatment during the time they were lliving in the program.
They then moved to Ballarat to be near their partner to begin their new life.
“I wouldn’t have been able to get the treatment for my illness or complete my studies without the housing and support I received “
“I didn’t think I would need much support on parole but participated in the Re-Link program while in prison just in case something went wrong & I needed support.
When my accommodation fell through & I had nowhere to live, ACSO & McCormack Housing stepped in & offered me a place to live within days. It meant moving to a city where I had no family or friends which made me a little apprehensive but I was told I would have support so I agreed. I am grateful I did because the help provided to me by McCormack Housing & ACSO was wonderful. Any problems I had or anything I needed help with, all I had to do was ask. Even during the pandemic I gained fulltime employment & finished my parole without any problems. This was something that made me happy & I felt I now had my life back on track. The safe accommodation & the support meant I could begin to move on with my life.
McCormack Housing helped me through the process of finding a private rental, which was another goal of mine, & I now feel very happy with where I am.
I feel that most prisoners would benefit from this type of program. I would like to see it expanded because I had great success with Re-Link.”
“A million percent helped with drug and alcohol use; I would have fallen back into the same hole if I didn’t have this opportunity. I have reconnected with most of my family, and I am working on getting the trust back from others. McCormack Housing was heaps better than expected and cannot fault the place, everything I needed was there.
I would recommend the program to others for sure. There are plenty of others in prison that need support like McCormack Housing. McCormack Housing has made me more confident and now I feel like I can stand on my own two feet. I found the housing support very helpful and now I have my own stable housing. I have been in and out of jail for 30 years and I know I will never go back; this is the first time I have ever accepted support.“
I was incarcerated for 4 months on drug charges and thefts; life was literally going downhill and I was given a chance to get my life back on track through ATRIUM
The program helped me and is still helping me with learning about myself and who I truly am. Who I want to be and being able to support myself mentally and emotionally without hiding behind any masks? I was able to pick up all my instruments again and begin to play music like I used to, and anyone that knows a musician will know how important that was for me
I’ve been able to get a house and now have signed a 12-month lease, I have a job and am Studying a Diploma of Drug and Alcohol counselling.
With all of this I’ve been able to work on all relationships in my life with my family and also in my personal life, they are in the best place they could be all round. I have the most amazing girlfriend, and I’m on amazing terms with my family, I speak to them every single day as I used to speak to them maybe once every 2 years or when I needed drug money…..
Now! I have 3 units left of my course, I’m wanting to finish that and start a brand-new career and be able to give back to the community in the best way I know how to. Stay in this home I’m currently in, continue to save money and keep pushing through my everyday life of staying clean and happy with who my sober self actually is.
“I was referred to the Atrium program by my CISP worker whilst doing time in prison Caraniche came and assessed me and found me suitable for the program and moved me into a property in Werribee
The ATRIUM /McH program has helped me with a lot of things but most of all, I now have trust in workers whereas in the past I never sought help as I didn’t want to bother anyone
The entire program has given me great advice and help, I never felt judged by the program all the staff were professional and supportive and i felt like if I went off in my own world it was ok to dust ya self-off and start again and ATRIUM/McH were there to help, I didn’t feel pressure just really encouraged to keep trying
I am now living in Frankston where I have always wanted to be, I am reconnecting with my daughter which has always been my main goal, when I told her I was moving to Frankston she replied that she is proud of me , she has never said that before
My Wife is visiting me next week as we are also reconnecting and I am hopeful to gain employment again in the building industry
Participant B has been a part of the Post Release program since April 2020 and has achieved maximum results from the program in a short time, they lost their Public Housing unit as result of going to prison. Participant B secured a unit in Gippsland and now has decided to make Gippsland his new home and a fresh start .
“I can’t thank you all enough, without ACSO I wouldn’t have been lost “
Participant C joined the McH Gippsland Housing Program in October 2016 after serving a lengthy prison sentence. Participant C has started their new beginning by reconnecting with his family and is moving to Northern Regional Victoria.
“Thanks to McCormack Housing, very appreciative of what you have done for me and very overwhelmed about the support and great opportunities. I would not have got out of jail without McCormack Housing, they also helped me meet some of my goals otherwise I would have been on the street with nothing. It means a lot the help I received.”
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McCormack Housing proudly acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and their rich culture and pays respect to their Elders past, present.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia’s first peoples and as the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and water on which we rely.
We embrace the spirit of reconciliation, working towards equality of outcomes and ensuring an equal voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, including those who have come in contact with the justice system.
McCormack Housing recognises the right to a safe and inclusive service without bias. McCormack Housing is committed to the equitable treatment of its participants, employees and partners. We believe in humanity and celebrating the diverse voices of our community through leadership, practice and policy design, to honour and embrace diverse traditions, cultures and experiences of those we support and work alongside.