This will be my fourth Christmas on the streets
This will be my fourth Christmas on the streets – I haven’t been living at home since I was 13.
After I left home I bounced from couch surfing with friends to a youth refuge. The refuge wasn’t much better because I was bullied by older residents and repeatedly robbed of the few personal effects I had. For the last 3 years I’ve been living in squats.
My childhood friendships have broken down so now I’m alone.
I hate this time of year. I try to ignore it but there are decorations everywhere and it just make me sad. The closest I’ve come to a real Christmas was a lunch held by a community meals program.
Last year I called my family to ask if I could come home for Christmas Day but when I got there, no-one was home. They’d gone away without telling me.
I wish I could celebrate - I just wish someone was there on Christmas morning.
* David, 17
