Uniting WA | The Path Home | Homelessness Week 2025
2 min
Paul the Chef
Uniting WA
The year Paul turned 60, he lost his mother. He was completely devastated. She'd raised him and three siblings alone, after his father's unexpected death. Paul was a casual FIFO chef and couldn't take leave to deal with his grief. He had to return to work the day after her funeral.
"I didn't have enough time off to say a proper goodbye to her. I didn't have anyone to talk to."
In a moment of sadness, he withdrew some of his superannuation and spent it.
"Before I knew it, I had nothing in the bank. It's my own fault I did those silly things"
After that, Paul secured a job in Esperance - but it didn't work out, and Paul's life was thrown into disarray. He returned to Perth penniless and homeless. He slept on the streets, in bushes, even in hospital car parks.
"I was sleeping anywhere warm that had lights and safety. I walked the streets with my bags or sat at the train station during the day. I was totally confused, lost, and I had no support or family."
Paul was terrified to sleep at night. When Paul finally tried to sleep, his phone, iPad, ID, and his Australian citizenship papers were stolen. It was all he had left.
"I was terrified, I thought I was going to get killed. I sat there crying my eyes out."
"Becoming homeless at 60 really rocked me to the core. I'd seen it on TV, the soup kitchens... then it happens to you. I felt suicidal and depressed. I looked at the trains and thought: one step onto the rails and I'd be gone, but then I thought of the train driver carrying that burden for the rest of their lives"
Paul called a helpline, who suggested he visit Uniting WA's Tranby Engagement Hub.
At Tranby, Paul met Ali, who offered encouragement and support.
"If it wasn't for Tranby, I don't know where I'd be - a little kindness goes a long way."
They put Paul in touch with Street Law, who helped him replace his ID, then the Tranby team helped him find temporary accommodation at Tom Fisher House, and the Salvation Army's Beacon. He updated his certificates and resume and applied for 40-50 jobs a week.
Paul found a job in Tom Price and things were looking up. Four months in, he was flying across the Nullabor for work when he was overcome with pain. At Port Hedland hospital he was told his bowel had given out. Once transferred to Royal Perth Hospital, he was put in an induced coma. His siblings were called to say goodbye. Paul recalls seeing a blue light, thinking he'd died. But he woke up.
Back to square one, Paul faced a long recovery, but now he knew he could go to Uniting WA and the team at Tranby for help. He healed from surgery at the Medical Respite Centre, and Homeless Healthcare later helped him find a unit in Fremantle.
Paul hopes to cook for the elderly in aged-care homes when he returns to work, and now volunteers in the kitchen at the Medical Respite Centre, feeling it's the least he can do to give back.
Now, when Paul thinks of the future, he has hope – sometimes, you just need a little help along the way.
© Uniting WA. Real people, real stories published by Uniting WA.
The person featured in this story has a lived experience of homelessness and has been supported by Uniting WA.
Homelessness is a wicked problem, but it's not impossible to solve. With support along the way, people can find their path home.
Learn more at unitingwa.org.au
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