On behalf of The Salvation Army, I want to say thank you for all of the amazing support the Australian public have given towards the 2021 Red Shield Appeal. As someone who has experienced extreme hardship, as well as experiencing the unconditional love and support offered by The Salvation Army, this generosity from the public means so much.
The money that has been raised for the Red Shield Appeal helps to fund amazing projects, services and centres across Australia that save lives and heal souls. COVID-19 has shocked the world and the need for assistance has never been higher. So many people are out of work, housing stress and homelessness is at an all-time high (almost doubling in the last 20 years) and mental health issues are becoming more common in all communities and cultures. Housing stresses are causing more people to live pay day to pay day, with some not even being able to afford to eat after paying their basic bills. This means that more people than ever before are seeking out their local Salvation Army for help.
“During this time, it is so crucial for us to stand together, unite and play our part to change the world”.
My name is Owen. I was homeless, drug addicted, and crime affiliated from a young age. I was lost, alone and forgotten. Now in 2021, I am an aspiring rapper and homeless activist, the creator of the rap genre #homelessrap and founder of the Street 2 Stage Project- a program run with The Salvos to help youth get off the streets through music. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the constant and unfading support from The Salvation Army. At my darkest time The Salvos stood by me like a family. Not only did they give me housing, financial and living support, they also gave me a purpose and hope for a new life. The Salvos helped me to find my voice and my purpose, giving me my passion to heal the streets. The ongoing work through projects run by The Salvation Army can create more people like myself and change more lives across Australia.
At 13 I was homeless, lost and alone. Not knowing what to do or who to turn to, I hopped on a train and got off at the next stop, where I slept in some disabled toilets at a train station. The nights were cold as I laid on a tiled floor, waking up every 5 minutes because of strange noises or nightmares. Not eating properly, I was unhealthy and sick from the cold nights, not even being able to shower. I was depressed and felt like I didn’t exist, so I started to smoke weed to mask my pain and I was forced to steal to survive. As I ran through the streets, I got fiercer and more aggressive. I began to hang around the wrong crowds and constantly caused trouble. Back then, I thought it would be better to be in a juvenile detention centre with a roof over my head and food to eat than to live on the streets. This went on for 2 years until finally The Salvos stepped in.
The time living on the streets was the darkest time of my life. There is no way to describe the overwhelming feelings of being alone on a cold night as a teenager. It is the kind of experience that is damaging to the mind and the soul. As I continued to roam the streets, I witnessed things that shocked even me. There were so many experiencing the same thing, with stories that would break anyone’s hearts. Let me tell you what I have seen.
I wasn’t the only 13-year-old street kid. There were youth even younger than I with deeper and darker stories. I saw teenage girls go into prostitution to survive the streets, teenage drug dealers and addicts corrupting and destroying each other. I saw most people’s opinions become distorted about people who are homeless or experiencing hardship, but the reality is that it can happen to anyone.
The youth on the streets are invisible and forgotten by most, but not by The Salvation Army. I can honestly say that without The Salvation Army, myself and countless others wouldn’t be here today. This is why it’s so important for people to donate to the Red Shield Appeal, to fund projects and centres that save the lives of our youth. The Salvation Army is filled with amazing people who see the value in every person. The more money The Salvos can raise, the more lives they can change.
I have seen firsthand the lives they have saved not only from the streets but within all social justice issues affecting our country. It is not too late; people still have until June 30th to donate to the Red Shield Appeal. We can no longer do nothing. It is on us to fix these issues in our society and create a better future for our world.
OE
