Willow's story

Meet Willow: A chance to rebuild

At just 17, Willow never imagined she’d end up without a home.

After growing up around family violence, Willow tried to make things work by moving in with her dad, hoping for a fresh start. But when that situation also became unsafe, she was forced to leave alone, with nowhere else to go.

At first, she couch-surfed with friends, always worried she’d overstay her welcome. Eventually, the couches ran out and Willow found herself sleeping on the streets. With no money, no ID and nowhere safe to turn, she struggled to find support. Many crisis services turned her away, focusing on her circumstances instead of her need for safety.

Photo: Willow*

When Willow arrived at MCM’s Frontyard Youth Services, she wasn’t sure what to expect. But instead of judgement, she found warmth and understanding. She was given a hot meal, clean clothes and a safe place to rest. For the first time in months, someone really saw her.

“When I got to Frontyard, I was tired, scared and completely over it. But for the first time, someone actually saw me, not just my situation. Now I feel like I have a real chance at a better future.” – Willow, aged 17

From there, Willow began to rebuild. With the support of her case worker, she moved into emergency accommodation at one of MCM’s youth refuges. She accessed healthcare, started the process of getting ID and finally had the stability to start planning her future.

Today, Willow is steadily finding her feet. She’s hopeful, determined and ready to move forward. And it all began with someone showing her kindness when she needed it most.

Every night, thousands of young Victorians like Willow are facing homelessness. But with the right support, they don’t have to face it alone.

Your support can give young people like Willow a safe place to sleep and hope for the future.

Donate now

*Disclaimer: The images used may be AI-generated and do not depict real people. They are used for illustrative purposes only and to protect the privacy of the people we work with. Names have also been changed to protect privacy.

MCM places people at the centre of what we do

MCM acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the waterways and lands where we work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

We commit to ensuring everyone we work with is safe, empowered, supported and respected, especially children and young people. We support and celebrate diversity of race, culture, ability, gender, sexuality and gender identity.