Holding my hand as I gave birth to my first child, Karinya didn’t just give me a home, they gave me safety, dignity, and the chance to become the Mum I always wanted to be. – Jodie
When Jodie was referred to Karinya House, she was 12 weeks pregnant and had just fled an abusive relationship. She was couch surfing with friends and had no space of her own. Even with a full-time job, it was hard to secure safe housing in Canberra’s competitive rental market. As Jodie’s pregnancy progressed, getting to work became harder – especially without a stable place to live. Without stable employment, she felt the pressure piling up, and she didn’t know where to turn.
That’s when Jodie reached out to Karinya House for support. The staff at Karinya House referred her to Fair Work Australia so that she could understand her employment rights. They also gave her support to navigate legal and family violence order processes, attend antenatal appointments and advocate for her application to Housing ACT. Karinya also provided Jodie with essentials like food parcels, baby goods, fuel vouchers, and even Christmas gifts! Most importantly, the case workers at Karinya House supported her emotionally, even staying by her side during the birth of her son. The support of the Karinya House team meant that Jodie didn’t feel so alone.
Jodie lived at Karinya House for more than a year. During that time, she received parenting support and advice, childcare, and the help she needed to explore education and employment opportunities. Throughout this time, Karinya House staff continued to advocate on her behalf, and she was allocated her very own Housing ACT property. With help from Karinya House, Jodie was also able to save a small nest egg that helped with her transition into her own property. Now, Jodie has a beautiful and healthy baby boy named Ned, a safe home, and is on her way to securing a stable job as an apprentice. Thanks to the care and support she received from Karinya House, Jodie has charted a path forward and she knows she can always reach out for Karinya’s support again whenever she may need it.
