Faye

Welfare

When Faye’s husband had to serve home detention, she knew she couldn’t support him and three children on her income alone, but didn’t know where to turn for help.

‘I saw in one of The Salvation Army magazines about how they help people,’ says Faye, ‘so I thought I would go down there to have a chat to someone to see if they could help us.’

Faye got as far as the Army’s door but kept turning back, worried that she would be judged or that no one would want to help her. She finally got up the courage when things at home just got too tough. ‘Sometimes you just need to ask for help,’ she comments.

Faye met with a Salvation Army counsellor that afternoon to talk through her situation and receive help with food and budget management. Her husband later attended a Salvation Army anger management course as part of his sentencing.

‘My husband really didn’t want to take the course,’ says Faye, ‘but by the second or third week something just clicked. It was like he all of the sudden realised: “I think they must be trying to help me.”’

After his home detention finished, Faye’s husband really turned his life around. He began working two jobs, while Faye took on a weekend job to help pay the bills and get them back on their own feet. Both Faye and her husband are active at The Salvation Army centre and are so thankful for how far they’ve come.

‘My husband is always conscious of consequences now,’ says Faye. ‘He’ll say that if he hadn’t gone to that course he wouldn’t be where he is today. It’s made him think about his life and how he affects us as a family.

‘At The Salvation Army the people just see you for who you are. They understand,’ she continues. ‘They all knew my husband did something bad, but they would still look at him like a person.

‘Nobody’s perfect, but what The Salvation Army is about is if you’re willing to put your hand up and say you’re willing to do something about your situation, they can help. I won’t forget what they’ve done for us.’

For many families, paying the bills and putting food on the table will be even more difficult in the coming months, as the cost of power, heating and fresh produce increases during the winter period.