- R
From my heart ❤️
I’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness of people, not only here in Australia, but internationally, who’ve recently heard my story and reached out.
Only two weeks ago, I went to the media, and that moment changed everything. After eight months on the streets, and believing I would remain homeless for another four years, I was finally able to get off the streets.
There have been so many beautiful messages, and some that have really hit home.
Through all of this, something has become very clear to me — when I’m stronger, I want to help others who are still living this life.
So many people have asked how they can help, and that’s why I’ve started this GoFundMe page — to give people a way to support the cause if they’re able.
How I became HOMELESS ⛺
On 11 May 2025, an ouster order through the Family Courts was issued to my landlord, not to me. I was living there as a boarder and my agreement had only just lapsed.
Within 24 hours, I was homeless.
What followed was eight months on the streets on the Gold Coast.
I slept in tents, parks, public spaces — and at times in hospital waiting areas just to feel safer. I carried my bags everywhere. I was constantly moving, constantly alert, constantly trying to survive without drawing attention to myself.
If this sounds like a reverse Cinderella story — riches to rags, minus the fairy godmother — that’s because it was. Raw, real, and unglamorous.
What life on the streets really looked like
Some days, I spent up to 12 hours on the phone trying to get help. There were weeks where I applied for dozens and dozens of houses.
Getting to inspections on public transport was hard enough. Keeping my phone charged, having data, replying fast enough — those things alone could make or break an opportunity.
Public toilets were locked by 8–9pm, leaving me no option other than to change sanitary items in public.
Public charging points were limited or removed. Power points were locked.
Barbecues were switched off at night, so you couldn’t cook.
Streetlights were dimmed or turned off, so you couldn’t stay in one place.
I was moved on from campsites and from setting up my tent by police and council — including situations where government representatives, including the Housing Minister, attended sites and we were moved on.
This didn’t feel accidental.
It felt like an effort to reduce the visibility of homelessness, not the reality of it.
Despite all of this, I survived eight months.
But I reached my absolute limit.
The day everything changed
After months of calling, turning up in person, completing intakes at the same service, and then being told my paperwork had been lost, that my intake or application “didn’t exist,” and that I needed to start again — I stopped believing help was coming.
I was preparing myself for another four to six years on the streets.
Then, in a completely unplanned moment, I spoke up on the radio.
That same day, I received a phone call from Housing. I was told I was being fast-tracked into accommodation immediately, following direction from the Minister I had been trying to contact for months.
Nothing changed because my situation was special.
It changed because it became visible.
Why I need to stand on my own two feet
While I was homeless, I did everything I could to stay connected to my children. I hired cars. I used what little money I had — including Centrelink — just to see them, even if it meant only a few days a fortnight.
Right now, under this arrangement, I’ve been informed that:
my children cannot stay with me without approval following a certain timeframe undisclosed.
I’m not allowed visitors
I live under monitoring along with camera servelllience.
After eight months of surviving independently, this has been deeply trauma-triggering and as a 40 year old women it's hard to, although I'm grateful understand the reasoning behind these blanket rules that have been strictly enforced on me including an incident where I wasn't aware of the severity and a miss communication had me in a confrontation that left me traumatised and the motivation for this GoFundMe.
I don’t feel secure.
I don’t feel settled.
And concerned that for any reason they choose I could be back on the streets in the blink of an eye.
This GoFundMe exists so I can live and heal independently, have my children with me, and rebuild without needing permission.
What this GoFundMe is for — Stage One
This stage is about:
stability
independence
healing
safety
having my children back with me
It’s not about luxury.
It’s about dignity.
Stage Two — when I’m stronger
Once I’m stable, my mission is bigger than me.
Stage Two is about helping others survive homelessness:
practical resource and dignity packs
clear, usable information — where to eat, shower, sleep safely
transitional or hostel-style pathways
real support led by lived experience.
That comes later.
Right now, this stage is about getting me strong enough to do that work properly.
Thank you!!!
In all of this, I lost hope for a while.
I lost my dignity.
I lost things — possessions that meant a lot to me.
But those things were material. Money is too.
What matters most to me now is stability, routine, healing, and having my children back.
From there, my mission is to help others who are still out there.
For every person you see sleeping rough, there are many more hiding in the shadows — just like I was.
Out there, it feels dark.
It feels lonely.
And it feels scary.
Most people never expected — and never chose — to be living that life.
Follow the journey
From day one, I documented this journey.
You can see where it began on TikTok-
@FilthyHomelessrich (now inaccessible).
This is where I am now — and I’d love for you to be part of where it goes next.
TikTok: @ragtoricheslife
Please feel free to reach out
If you — or someone you know — needs help, I’ll do my best to support where I can, even with my glass overflowing right now.
Thank you for standing with me.
Here is the link from the day I finally got off the streets:
Organizer
