{"id":28829,"date":"2020-08-19T04:36:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-18T23:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/10.101.250.8\/news-and-publication\/vinces-story-light-at-the-end-of-a-dark-tunnel-2\/"},"modified":"2023-06-06T08:40:35","modified_gmt":"2023-06-05T22:40:35","slug":"vinces-story-light-at-the-end-of-a-dark-tunnel-2","status":"publish","type":"news-and-publication","link":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/news-and-publications\/stories-of-hope\/vinces-story-light-at-the-end-of-a-dark-tunnel-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Vince\u2019s story: light at the end of a dark tunnel"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

It was cold. Sometimes unbearably cold. Every night Vince would huddle in his tent beneath the light rail tunnels at Wentworth Park in Sydney.<\/p>

And while the tunnels provided shelter from the rain, the icy winds were strong.<\/p>

\u201cLiving in Wentworth Park was hard,\u201d Vince reflects. \u201cIt\u2019s always a struggle. You\u2019ve got no facilities. It gets cold. You have to always be on the hunt for food.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

And when Vince wasn\u2019t searching for food, he spent hours alone reflecting whether he had much of a future. At that time, it looked bleak.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Vince (left) is thankful for the care given by his support worker, Andy during his stay at Wesley Edward Eagar Centre, crisis accommodation<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cI thought I was going to be on the streets for the rest of my life,\u201d Vince says.<\/p><\/blockquote>

But in a moment, that all shifted. \u201cI was lucky that Wesley Mission came along, and they changed all that for me,\u201d he says.<\/p>

Vince says he\u2019ll always remember that day. He woke to a commotion in the park. He walked over to the Department of Communities and Justice marquee and there he met Rob, Operations Manager for Wesley Homeless Services.<\/p>

Rob simply listened to Vince as he shared his story. \u201cRob was really a big comfort and really compassionate. And he said to me, \u2018One way or another, together we\u2019ll make sure that last night was the very last night you\u2019ll need to sleep out\u2019.\u201d An invitation was extended to stay at Wesley Edward Eagar Centre, inner-city emergency accommodation.<\/p>

Vince vividly recalls that long walk from Wentworth Park to Wesley Edward Eagar Centre in Surry Hills. \u201cIt was raining heavily, and I got to the lodge and I was soaked. It was so good to have a hot shower and a hot meal. I was very grateful.\u201d<\/p>

While thankful for these comforts, when Vince first entered Wesley Edward Eagar Centre, he felt overwhelmed. \u201cI couldn\u2019t handle all the people.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Afraid, Vince turned to Rob and said, \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m going to stay.\u201d<\/p>

But the tents back at Wentworth Park were gone. They were removed that same day. The only option was to sleep on the ground. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to do that,\u201d Vince says.<\/p>

Outwardly, Vince wears the scars of sleeping rough. But Vince speaks thoughtfully. And beneath his kind eyes and soft nature, he reveals vulnerability, having experienced true loneliness and disconnection from his time on the streets.<\/p>

Intimidated by the volume of people living at Wesley Edward Eagar Centre, Vince suddenly missed his community. For those three years he lived on the streets, Vince had built friendships.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
For Vince, his faith has been his anchor throughout his entire journey out of homelessness<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cWhen I first lived on the streets, I was just living in parks and was quite isolated. That was difficult because it affected my mental health. I felt very lonely and depressed,\u201d Vince says.<\/p>

\u201cThen I met a guy living at Wentworth Park and he told me, \u2018You can come and share my tunnel with me\u2019. The friendship started from there.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

While Vince missed his community, he slowly began connecting with people at Wesley Edward Eagar Centre. \u201cRob just encouraged me to give it a chance,\u201d he says.<\/p>

And Vince is so glad he did. Initially he kept to himself. But gradually Vince came out of his shell and began enjoying meals, coffee and pool games with other residents.<\/p>

He developed a strong relationship with Andy, Wesley Edward Eagar Centre Program and Practice Manager. Immediately they bonded over their daughters having the same name.<\/p>

\u201cHe was a very quiet-spoken man at first. But just that little bit of connection and we hit it off from there. It\u2019s something as simple as that,\u201d Andy shares.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Vince is thankful for the support Andy has given throughout his whole journey.<\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m going to give credit to Vince,\u201d Andy says. \u201cHe\u2019s the one who\u2019s pushed this forward. Vince took up the baton and ran with it. He\u2019s done everything we asked him to do.\u201d<\/p>

And Vince\u2019s relationship with Wesley Mission Chaplain Michael Tang is one he\u2019ll always value. Throughout his stay at Wesley Edward Eagar Centre, every Sunday Vince would join Michael\u2019s Bible study.<\/p>

\u201cIt was something I used to look forward to on a Sunday, meeting up with Michael. He was always a friendly face asking how you\u2019re going, if you\u2019re all right and offering to pray for you\u201d, says Vince.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Vince has continually found hope through his faith and was something he leaned on while living on the streets.<\/p>

\u201cFaith is important to me. It\u2019s one thing that gives me hope and comfort because when I was alone on the streets, it was good to know that there\u2019s a God and that he\u2019s looking after me,\u201d Vince says.<\/p>

\u201cNo matter how alone I was, I wasn\u2019t really alone because Jesus loves us all and he made a big sacrifice for us.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cThat\u2019s what I like about faith, that you can have unconditional love and there\u2019s no barriers.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The love Vince experiences from Jesus is the same love Vince has for his own daughter. Vince\u2019s love for his daughter has motivated him along his whole journey out of homelessness. Vince\u2019s eyes light up as he begins talking about her. \u201cShe inspired me to keep on going.\u201d<\/p>

Ten years ago, Vince lost contact with his daughter after travelling through a messy divorce. During this time, his mental health took its toll. \u201cBeing separated from her was pretty traumatic for me,\u201d he says.<\/p>

\u201cI didn\u2019t care as much for myself as I did for my daughter because she\u2019s the most important thing to me. She\u2019s the one thing that keeps me going and I think if it wasn\u2019t for that love that I have for her, I probably wouldn\u2019t be sitting here in front of you right now.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Vince was blown away by when he first saw freshly renovated apartment he now permanently calls home.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

After the divorce, Vince didn\u2019t have any contact with his daughter. But driven by that love, he invested what money he received from the divorce settlement into a property, which he put into a Trust under his daughter\u2019s name.<\/p>

\u201cYears ago, I had a problem with addiction and I think if I\u2019d kept that money, I would\u2019ve blown it,\u201d he shares.<\/p>

\u201cI love my daughter so much and I just wanted to leave something for her. I want to make sure that she doesn\u2019t have to struggle in her life.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

Vince gave all he had to her. While admirable, it meant Vince had nothing left to build a life for himself. And his property investment limited his ability to access housing support. Unable to afford the property\u2019s mortgage payments, he needed to source rental income. But that left Vince without a home. So, he ended up on the streets.<\/p>

While a unique situation, the team at Wesley Edward Eagar Centre began navigating through Vince\u2019s legal housing issues.<\/p>

After eight months of living at Wesley Edward Eagar Centre, Vince was offered a transitional home in Sydney\u2019s inner suburbs. It was a fresh start. But it came with new challenges. Suddenly Vince had to re-learn life skills.<\/p>

\u201cI had more independence, which was good because I didn\u2019t have that for a long time. I was always relying on people and I guess it gave me a better chance to grow,\u201d Vince says.<\/p><\/blockquote>

While a new chapter for Vince, for two more years he continued to wait for a permanent home. \u201cAt one point I didn\u2019t know if I was ever going to get housed because of the legal ramifications,\u201d he says.<\/p>

But when that day finally came, Vince was shocked. One phone call changed his life. And now Vince has a place he can permanently call home.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The first time Vince saw his new home, he was blown away. Everything was new from the freshly painted walls to the soft carpets. Andy and his team organised furniture, kitchen appliances and blinds for Vince\u2019s new home and sent a team of people to help Vince move.<\/p>

\u201cA couple of the caseworkers came here and set the place up for me. I didn\u2019t have to basically do anything. I just brought my clothes and everything else was set up, so I\u2019m grateful for that. Wesley Mission have helped me tremendously and they\u2019ve been a great support,\u201d Vince says.<\/p>

\u201cThe last 10 years have been a struggle for me and I didn\u2019t ever think that I\u2019d end up where I am today, but I do have to thank Wesley Mission. Their support and their interaction with me and helping me with housing, I couldn\u2019t have done that by myself.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Vince is excited to finally have a home where can invite his daughter over for dinne<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Andy adds, \u201cIt\u2019s going to give him a good base now to move forward. He\u2019s got something now that is his, and I think it\u2019s a new way of living for him.\u201d<\/p>

Vince now relishes sitting on his balcony enjoying a cuppa as the sun streams down. And just a 10 minute walk to his mental health support service, Vince feels he\u2019s finally in the right place. Now re-connected with his daughter, Vince can\u2019t wait to have his first meal with his daughter in his new home.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was cold. Sometimes unbearably cold. Every night Vince would huddle in his tent beneath the light rail tunnels at …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":28830,"parent":29713,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","advanced-sidebar-menu\/link-title":"","advanced-sidebar-menu\/exclude-page":true},"ceo-newsletter":[],"move-to-top-of-sidebar":[],"custom-layouts":[680],"exclude-from-nav":[632],"news-and-publications-tags":[629],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2024-05-04 22:04:42","action":"change-status","newStatus":"private","terms":[],"taxonomy":"custom-layouts"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-and-publication\/28829"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-and-publication"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news-and-publication"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-and-publication\/28829\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-and-publication\/29713"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ceo-newsletter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ceo-newsletter?post=28829"},{"taxonomy":"move-to-top-of-sidebar","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/move-to-top-of-sidebar?post=28829"},{"taxonomy":"custom-layouts","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/custom-layouts?post=28829"},{"taxonomy":"exclude-from-nav","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/exclude-from-nav?post=28829"},{"taxonomy":"news-and-publications-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wesleymission.org.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-and-publications-tags?post=28829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}