Georgie – no longer struggling alone

“Financial stress is something most people don’t get. Until you’ve lived it, you don’t know. I had days I had to ask myself: do I pay my phone bill, or do I eat?”

Anyone can experience severe hardship, at any point in their life. When Georgie found herself struggling financially at the age of 51, it wasn’t just that, it was a real inner-struggle.

Hardship that began early

In some respect, Georgie’s hardship started in her younger years. Having a controlling and overbearing father meant that she grew up with severe anxiety and experienced trauma.

Unaware that she was living with undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as an adult, Georgie always wondered why she often felt confused and anxious, but her kind heart and a love of animals kept her going.

But what happened next made things worse.

Georgie’s husband abandoned her and moved overseas, leaving her with no support. And then her finances fell apart.

Left with a run-down rural property she couldn’t manage alone, Georgie had no choice but to sell her home at a loss and move into the cheapest rental she could find. As Georgie says,

They kept putting the rent up until I couldn’t afford it, then told me to leave.

With her mental health gravely impacted, Georgie was living on one meal a day. And with rent rising, things weren’t getting any easier week-to-week. Although a hard worker who was willing to give anything a try to make ends meet, Georgie was soon facing homelessness.

I had no one in my life, no support. I knew I was going to be homeless!
I didn’t know what I was going to do.

With no one she could rely on for emotional support and immensely uncertain about what her future would hold, Georgie felt lost and alone. Then one day, her phone rang. On the other end of the line was a Salvos case worker.

As Georgie recalls, “I’ll never forget the day Sue called me, and told me I had a home, that I was not going to be homeless.”

Feeling supported can change a life

The generosity of the Salvos was life-changing for Georgie.

As she goes on to explain, “I was really struggling, so Salvos financial support was incredible. It helped me pay for meat, fruit and veg, and petrol. Things I really needed help with.”

Sue and the Salvos helped Georgie with not just a house she could feel safe in, but cared for her, walked alongside her, and helped her feel more connected.

“I didn’t have anyone until Sue came along. She’s the angel I’d prayed for these last few years. The support she’s given me – physical, practical, mental, and emotional – has been nothing short of a miracle,” says Georgie.

With the care and support she received, Georgie was able to get back on track. Of her progress, she says, “When you are supported, it affects every area of your life. That’s the beauty of The Salvation Army. My whole life has turned around because of the Salvos. I don’t know where I’d be without them. I really don’t.”

Moving towards an independent and empowered life, Georgie now no longer needs to prioritise paying an overdue bill and eating a meal. She’s no longer struggling alone.