One young mum rewrites her future

June 12, 2026

At just 20 years old, Sarah has lived more than many twice her age. From the age of 13, Sarah experienced the harsh realities of homelessness – couch surfing between friends and family, unsure where she would sleep each night. But today, she stands proudly as the leaseholder of her very own home, with her young son by her side, and a 30 year plan for a future she’s determined to build.

This transformation didn’t happen overnight. It came through determination, courage, and the vital support of CatholicCare’s KEYS program that supports young parents who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.

Sarah’s early teens were marked by instability. After leaving home at 13 due to a strained and volatile relationship with her mother, she entered a cycle of insecure housing and short stays with friends. As she moved into late adolescence, Sarah formed a relationship and began using drugs – a path that quickly led to addiction.

Despite these challenges, life began to look up. She and her partner managed to secure a rental, and Sarah, having ceased drug use, found out she was pregnant. But this moment of hope was quickly overshadowed by domestic violence. The relationship became abusive, and Sarah was forced to flee with her newborn son in search of safety.

Once again homeless, Sarah moved back in with her mother. It was a place to stay, but far from stable.

“Life was very challenging,” says Kristy, Sarah’s Case Worker. “There was constant arguing, and it wasn’t a great environment for her or her child.”

Kristy describes Sarah’s greatest strengths as her fierce independence and relentless drive. “She’s got a 30 year plan. That’s something you almost never see in our cohort. She’s incredibly motivated and determined to build a better life not just for herself, but for her child. Our initial support was making sure Sarah had a live application with housing,” explains Kristy. “From there, we supported Sarah to become approved for the Homes NSW Rent Choice Youth subsidy.”

While housing was hard to come by in her preferred area near school, Sarah didn’t give up. Through persistence and a family contact, she secured a private granny flat. It was still a fair distance from her school, but it was a space she could call her own. Thanks to CatholicCare’s support in linking her with the Rent Choice Youth program, Sarah will be able to sustain this tenancy while continuing her education and working towards employment. Sarah is focused on completing her HSC and eventually completing a Certificate III in Business Studies. Her dream is to one day do a university degree and open her own business.