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The homeless find a friend
Friday 25 April, 2008 12:01am
BONNIE Wilson has always had a roof over her head but it hasn't always felt like home.
Bonnie's parents separated when she was two and by the time she was 10 neither her mother nor father was able to look after her.
After spending time in a youth refuge, Bonnie was placed in several foster homes.
"My parents were angry with each other for as long as I can remember," she said.
"I didn't know anything but conflict growing up but I still wanted to stay with my mum"
Bonnie received little support from her first foster family and was eventually asked to leave.
"One day I had a disagreement with my first foster mum and got kicked out the next day," Bonnie said.
At the age of 11, Bonnie received another major blow when she was diagnosed with type one diabetes.
"It was extremely hard. I had to learn how to inject myself," she said.
After being asked to leave by her first foster mother, Bonnie moved into a new home when she was 15.
Fortunately her second family had a different approach and Bonnie experienced the care and support she had longed for.
"With my second family I experienced a real, stable family unit for the first time," she said.
"There were three other girls living there who had similar stories to mine."
Despite having been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, Bonnie was doing well in school and in 2007 began her HSC year.
"While I was studying for the HSC I learned I could only stay where I was for another six months and I had nowhere to go (after that)," Bonnie said.
"I thought it was really unfair that I had the stress of the HSC and finding a place to live."
She said after much discussion, the Community Services Department (DoCS) allowed her to remain with the family only until she finished the HSC as she would then turn 18.
Bonnie said any process that involved DoCS moved very slowly and over the years she'd had a series of bad case workers.
"It was then that my foster mum found Marist Youth Services," she said. "They have given me a place to live while I complete a TAFE diploma."
Bonnie is on Youth Allowance and receives about $300 a fortnight to pay for food, rent and her expensive medical bills.
"I've tried hard to get work but have had no luck."
Bonnie said she was grateful to Marist Youth but she does worry about the future when she can no longer rely on their assistance.
"With everything that's happened to me I sometimes get so sick of it all but I don't have any other options," she said.
"Living here is a solid factor for me. Right now I'm trying not to think about where I'll be living in the future."
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