Two years ago, Ashley’s life looked very different.

At 32, she was thriving in full-time employment, working in food packaging and enjoying the independence she had built for herself. She was earning a good income, living with her mother, supporting her, and had proudly saved enough money to buy her own car.

Everything changed when Ashley discovered she was pregnant.

The news brought uncertainty and fear. Her relationship with her baby’s father was new and unstable, and support was hard to find. As the pregnancy progressed, Ashley found herself facing the challenges on her own. The father of the child withdrew from her life and struggled with substance abuse, leaving Ashley without the support she had hoped for during one of the most important moments in her life.

When her son, Aydin, was born, Ashley was determined to give him the best possible start. But instead of enjoying those precious first months as a new mother, she found herself navigating a complex child protection process instigated by the father of the child, responding to allegations, attending appointments, completing drug screenings, and doing everything required to demonstrate that she could provide a safe and stable home for her son.

“I did everything they asked of me,” Ashley recalls. “The whole experience was an emotional rollercoaster.”

Throughout this period, housing instability added another layer of stress. Ashley moved between family members’ homes, sleeping on couches and makeshift beds while trying to care for a newborn. Despite the challenges, she remained focused on creating a secure future for Aydin. She stopped using drugs before his birth and has remained committed to her recovery since.

The turning point came when Ashley was connected with support services.

Initially working with Louise one of our Practitioners and later with Gerda our Housing Specialist Officer, Ashley found more than practical assistance. She found people who believed in her.

“Gerda never sugar-coated anything,” Ashley says. “But she gave me hope when I needed it most. She helped me hold on.”

Together, they worked through housing applications, child protection requirements, and the many barriers standing between Ashley and the life she wanted for her son. During a period when she felt emotionally and physically exhausted, the support she received helped her stay focused and keep moving forward.

Then came the message that changed everything.

In December, Gerda contacted Ashley with an opportunity to move into an apartment in the Western suburbs, through Unison Housing.

“It was the best part of my year,” Ashley says.