Josie finds ‘lifeline’ in Salvation Army’s care

kirranicolle
17 minutes ago
3 min read

At one point, Josie was forced to live in her car.

With The Salvation Army’s Financial Inclusion team releasing the Financial Inclusion Action Plan (FIAP) Impact Highlights Report for 2018 – 2025, we are sharing the story of a community member who experienced the benefits of financial inclusion when she was experiencing hardship. We are calling this person Josie, to keep her identity protected.

Josie faced a series of setbacks and blows to her housing and financial stability over a period of several months, when with no family and friends close by and no other support networks, she reached out to The Salvation Army for help.

“The Salvation Army has been a lifeline for me,” Josie said. “They have provided consistent support at every step of my journey.”

When Josie first moved into a new property in a new suburb, she did so without essential household items such as a fridge and washing machine. Staff at The Salvation Army corps nearby introduced her to a No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) worker, who were able to process a priority application, which helped them purchase the items they needed urgently.

But Josie’s challenges weren’t over. A few months later, she was referred to the Moneycare team as her housemate left unexpectedly after not contributing adequately to their shared expenses, and Josie was left to pay a large bill. Josie was able to be supported to call her utility provider and arrange a manageable payment plan. Moneycare staff also helped Josie organise payments for her water bills and car registration, enabling her to gain greater control of her finances.

Sadly, however, Josie was unable to find another housemate, and was forced to live in her car, alongside her service dog, who provided vital emotional support. As Josie lives with PTSD, anxiety and depression, homelessness compounded her symptoms and her life circumstances impacted heavily on her mental and physical health.

But, she was determined to stay positive. Josie kept regularly attending her local Salvation Army church and participating in the Celebrate Recovery program. Eventually, she was offered a community housing property.

Josie moved in, but then faced another challenge: her car began displaying problems. It needed urgent repairs, and Josie was still trying to get back on her feet. To make matters worse, Josie was targeted by a social media loan scam, and her Centrelink pension money was gone.

Josie reached out to NILS for support, and the NILS worker referred her to Doorways, where she accessed a food voucher to help her survive the next fortnight. She also received education on how to protect her identity, as well as referrals to additional support services.

Unfortunately, Josie’s car then stopped working altogether. Again, The Salvation Army stepped in, referring Josie to the NILS for Vehicles program run by Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand. The Salvation Army supported Josie with providing documentation and communication across services.

Josie was also invited to participate in the Positive Lifestyle Program (PLP), and she agreed. She says this helped her to reflect on the challenges in her life, break them down into manageable parts and develop strategies to address them. She says she now finds she often returns to her workbook for continued resources and support options.

Josie has reflected on her journey with The Salvation Army through a time of personal crisis and says the services haven’t just helped her to survive but have enabled her to build a foundation for long-term stability.

“The NILS program helped with practical needs like a fridge and car repairs, while the Positive Lifestyle Program gave me the tools to stay emotionally strong,” Josie says. “Doorways helped with essentials like food when I was in crisis, and Moneycare gave me budgeting advice that helped me keep my bills up to date. My local church and Celebrate Recovery have also been a spiritual anchor in my journey and connection to community.