Listen to the episode
‘How I became homeless is I just kept running till there was nowhere else to go. Unfortunately, once you run into the street, it’s so hard to get off it.’
On any given night in Australia, over 122,000 people are experiencing homelessness. Deena was one of them. Through tragic circumstances, Deena found herself turning to life on the streets. Today Deena shares her story of finding hope and belonging amidst unimaginable challenges.
‘I was two years on the street. I was a broken, dishevelled, depressed, lonely, and rejected woman. And today I’m living back in society rather than on the peripherals.’
Listen to Deena’s powerful story of finding hope in homelessness.
Watch the interview with Deena on our YouTube Channel.
Read Deena’s poem here – ‘Mercy Mercy’
Key takeaways from this episode
- Homelessness can happen to anyone. Deena never imagined she’d end up on the streets, but after fleeing domestic violence and running out of safe places, she found herself with nowhere to go. Her story shows how easily anyone can ‘slip through the cracks’.
- Childhood trauma shaped her resilience. Growing up in an abusive and alcoholic home, Deena ran away multiple times as a child. These painful experiences gave her strength to endure later hardships but also left deep emotional scars.
- Life on the streets was dangerous and dehumanising. Deena faced theft, harassment, and frequent threats of violence. She often stayed awake at night for safety and described the exhaustion, hunger, and fear that came with homelessness.
- The stigma of homelessness adds to the pain. People mocked, ignored, or mistreated her simply for being homeless. She learned how society often devalues people in poverty, treating them as ‘second-class citizens’.
- Faith became her turning point. At her lowest, Deena prayed desperately for help. She felt that God heard her and began to work in quiet, unseen ways—eventually leading her into a hospital where she could rest, eat, and recover her strength.
- Community and belonging bring healing. Deena found love, care, and purpose through her church family. Their acceptance and compassion gave her a renewed sense of dignity and reminded her that she was not alone.
- God’s love is for the broken. Deena came to understand that church is not only for the ‘good’ or fortunate, but also for those who are wounded and lost. She now sees that God never abandoned her, even in her darkest days.
- Homelessness needs compassion, not condemnation. Deena urged listeners to see beyond stereotypes. Many homeless people want stability, safety, and dignity. Practical acts of kindness, donations, or even a simple conversation can make a difference.
- God restores hope and identity. Scripture such as 1 Samuel 2:8 reminded Deena that God ‘raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap.’ This truth became her foundation for recovery and faith in a God who restores and redeems.
Episode transcript
Click to view PDF transcript
Related booklet
Suffering happens all around us. Sometimes it comes in the form of a natural disaster; other times it’s a form of terror brought on by humans. Sometimes suffering is fuelled by economic or medical conditions; at other times it appears randomly. Suffering can happen on a global scale, within a specific community, or be limited to an individual. Suffering comes in so many forms, but they all drive us back to that age-old question, ‘Where’s God in All of This?’
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