Impact Story: A Journey Home for Christmas

Fletcher Street Cottage had been supporting a young man in his twenties for the past couple of months since he arrived in Byron Bay. The man presented with quite complex mental health conditions, however, had a heart of gold. This man was extremely vulnerable, often coming in for breakfast having had his items stolen off him the night before or being injured.

The week leading up to Christmas, things seemed to get worse for him. He was now completely locked out of his bank accounts, was banned from entering the banks to seek support and had absolutely no identification documents.

Fletcher Street Cottage was able to support him in getting some identification documents, feeding him, and ensuring he had enough clothes and camping equipment to get through the nights. While he had been extremely hesitant about returning home, we continued to offer our support in getting him back to his community.

Just before Christmas, he presented to us in despair and asked for support getting home. Due to the time of year, the prices for a bus and train back to his home town were astronomical. Thankfully, our team were able to secure funding from a community program to support the young man to return home for Christmas. Without this funding and community support, we could not have supported this vulnerable young man in returning home to safety for Christmas. 

‍About Fletcher Street Cottage

Fletcher Street Cottage is a community hub in the heart of Byron Bay, offering essential support for individuals facing homelessness and hardship. Our services include nutritious meals, access to showers and laundry, advocacy, health services and more, all aimed at helping our clients move toward stability and self-sufficiency. With the support of our dedicated team, volunteers and generous community partners, we’re working every day to make a positive impact.