Mr Brown is a client of Orana Support Service. Last week he signed a fixed term residential agreement with the organisation, giving him a place to call home with his friend Tom.

The 26-year-old said he had always wanted to get out on his own.

“I was in Perth for five years and I was just staying with my cousins and my uncles and aunties and all that. I was doing drugs and just going around in circles. I had to do something, so I got away from Perth, came over here and here I am today. I feel good. I feel proud of myself,” Mr Brown said.

“When I was over in Perth I didn’t worry about my health or my family. I just laid back one day and got sick of it. I was just doing drugs, going to my appointments and doing nothing. I had to wake up and say it was enough.

“I’ve had a rough life and I’ve lived on the streets when I was younger. But I wouldn’t change it for the world where I am today.”

After contacting Orana Support Services, Mr Brown was moved into Sturt House. Within the week he was living in a flat.

Orana Support Service CEO Peter Gallagher said the organisation supports up to 20 people per month with their tenancy support program.

“The amount of support we put in ranges from just pointing them in the right direction to connecting them with the right real estate or Housing NSW, up to supporting them with brokerage loans with two weeks rent in advance,” he said.

For almost 30 years the organisation has run Sturt House and three years ago it won the tender to oversee all the adult homelessness programs in Dubbo. As well as Sturt House the OSS also has seven transitional properties and the tenancy support program.

“The tenancy support program is growing ever so much because of the stress on tenancies. The cost of tenancies is almost unaffordable for people who are on Centrelink payments,” Mr Gallagher said.

Mr Brown said he was shocked at how quickly Orana Support Service was able to find him a place to live.

“At first I didn’t care where I lived, like on the streets and stuff I didn’t mind. But without these guys I wouldn’t have a roof over my head,” he said.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had independence again and it feels really good. All I’ve got to do now is find a job and stay on the straight and narrow. I want to get some money in my pocket.”

Both men were grateful for the opportunity, Mr Brown said.

“Tom is pretty stoked about it. He just can’t stop talking about it. He keeps saying ‘it’s good to have our own flat isn’t it?’”

Those who are in need of Orana Support Service’s assistance can contact the organisation on 1800 353 199.

Presents to bring plenty of joy to Orana Support Service clients

There’ll be a few extra smiles on Christmas Day, thanks to a special effort from Orana Support Services.

More than 50 presents will be handed out to the children and adults supported by the organisation, in addition to food hampers.

Orana Support Service CEO Peter Gallagher said it made a huge difference to the families to have a present under the tree.

“A lot of our clients are low-income families with small children so we always make a special effort at Christmas time to ensure every child has a present for Christmas,” he said.

The adults don’t miss out either.

“About three years ago we actually gave a present to a lady in her mid-50s who was staying at Sturt House and she actually broke down and cried because she said it was the first Christmas present she had ever received. That makes it worthwhile when you hear that sort of stuff,” Mr Gallagher said.

Meanwhile the food hampers were critical to ensuring the clients had enough to eat over the festive season, he said.