These are the words of Lucas*, who found himself in prison three times before he turned 18 as a result of his bad choices. Finding a safe home and intensive support at Perry House helped him to overcome his challenges and turn away from crime.
Donate now to help young people like Lucas avoid homelessness and re-offending.
When Lucas first came in contact with the justice system, he was fifteen. He didn’t have a stable home. He also had an intellectual disability that hadn’t been diagnosed.
“Each time I would get arrested, it would just get worse and worse”, he says. It was an experience that changed him. “I went in there soft, came out different.”
For Lucas, cognitive challenges made his experience with the justice system so much harder.
“They took me to the police station, and they started processing me … I was terrified … I didn’t know what was going on”.
Sadly, Lucas is not alone.
You may be surprised to hear that 25 per cent of children in the justice system had a diagnosed cognitive condition* – from being on the autism spectrum to intellectual disabilities.
These children are more likely to become disengaged from school. They are more likely to have experienced trauma or neglect in childhood. And, as in Lucas’ case, they are less likely to understand how to deal with police and the court process.
It was only after his third time in prison that Lucas came to Jesuit Social Services’ Perry House.
Perry House provides housing and support for young people with complex needs, like Lucas’ intellectual disability, who are coming out of the justice system. Without it, most would be homeless.
At Perry House, young people can live safely while they gain life skills, make friendships with other residents, and start to see a different future for themselves.
Young people at Perry House learn practical life skills, like setting up a bank account or accessing a Myki card for public transport. Some have never been grocery shopping.
We provide them with opportunities to do the same things that other young people their age do. This shows them they belong in the community, just like anyone else.
“Having these supports there has opened a new world for me, it has made me the best shape of myself. I don’t think I would have went to jail, I think that it would have kept me out of jail. It would have put me, like, in line and would have given me the opportunity to do things differently.”
Lucas’ words show the real difference that providing a safe place to live, along with necessary supports, can make to young people as they transition out of the justice system.
For Lucas, the support he got while living at Perry House has helped him to move into his own place.
With your support, we can give young people like Lucas hope for their future, by providing a safe space to call home, along with tailored support to prepare them to live more independently.
There are many reasons young people like Lucas wind up in the justicesystem. But giving them a safe home and support to rebuild their lives can makesure they don’t return.
* Lucas’s name has been changed and representative images used to protect his privacy.