Jordan has been living with St Bart’s for a few months, but his journey began long before that. Growing up in the small town of Moora, he spent his early years surrounded by the familiar faces of his family. Life was simple until his mother and sister moved to Adelaide. He attempted to join them, but after two weeks, he decided to return to Perth to live with his aunt, feeling more comfortable with his mother’s family here in Perth. He stayed there until he was 18 before he left home.
At 24, Jordan landed a FIFO job, earning more money than he knew how to manage. Surrounded by the wrong crowd, he fell into a vicious cycle of working hard and partying harder. Without any family or adult guidance, he was left to navigate life’s challenges alone. Reflecting on that period, Jordan said, “I was young and didn’t really know much about life. I had no support. I was never really taught what to do with money” This lack of guidance led him to make poor choices, eventually resulting in a prison sentence of two and a half years. He lost everything—his job, his house—and upon release, he had nowhere to go. He faced over six months of homelessness.
He tried staying with his mother, who had returned to Perth, but her one-bedroom place was cramped, and tensions with her partner made it untenable. “My family was one of the reasons I turned to alcohol,” he admitted. “Sometimes they are just too much. But I love my mum very much, we are best friends. I see her every day.”
Jordan found solace and support in the yarning circles organised by Derbarl Yerrigan in East Perth. Through these connections, he secured a place at the Beacon, where he stayed for a year before moving to St Bart’s. “My mum had come to St Bart’s after being homeless herself, and that’s how I heard about it. She helped me get a place here,” Jordan explained.
Despite his hardships, Jordan’s experience with homelessness became a turning point in his life. He recently completed a Certificate IV in Mental Health and plans to pursue further studies in counselling to help others who are facing similar challenges.
Jordan & St Bart’s staff at Heart for the Homeless Basketball game.
As a member of the LGBTQI+ community, Jordan says he feels more accepted at St Bart’s than he ever has before. “St Bart’s has not only provided a roof over my head, but I feel more open and accepted here. I can just be myself and focus on the future,” he shared.
Jordan’s future goals are centered around becoming a counsellor. His time on the streets exposed him to the harsh realities of life, including witnessing people attempt suicide. These traumatic experiences revealed his natural ability to help others, as he personally intervened to save lives, on more than one occasion.
His message to others is one of hope and resilience: “There is always hope. Just believe in yourself. We are all God’s children. Don’t judge because you don’t know people’s story.”
Jordan’s journey from hardship to hope serves as a powerful reminder that with support and determination, anyone can overcome their past and build a brighter future.
St Bart’s acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land that we live and work on, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation. We are privileged to work with, and alongside, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and encourage those who are emerging as leaders.
St Bart’s is committed to diversity and inclusion in all its forms. We welcome and support the health and wellbeing of all people, regardless of background, age, ethnicity, religion and gender identity.