OWEN used to see himself as “just a shit-kicker from Sunshine”, caught up in a cycle of crime, homelessness and the revolving door of juvenile detention.
But the 20-year-old (pictured), who didn’t want his last name used, is finding his way back with support from Altona-based organisation Latitude: Directions for Young People.
Latitude, which services Hobsons Bay and Moonee Valley, has piloted a program with the Rotary Club of Werribee and Freemasons Victoria that provides mentoring for young men.
Latitude manager Rhonda Collins says that for many clients, it may be the first positive contact with a male they’ve had in their life.
Owen first entered the “big boys’ unit” of the Melbourne Youth Justice Centre at 15, before ending up on the street after his mother gave him an ultimatum.
“I’ve got six younger brothers and sisters, so my mum’s sort of given me the opportunity whether to stop offending and having the police coming to her door and stuff. Otherwise I sort of had to make my move.
“I didn’t pull my socks up so I sort of got asked to leave.”
After five months in a refuge, Owen made contact with Latitude and got into transitional housing.
It was a move that changed his life.
“When I was 17 and 18 I didn’t know much different,” Owen says.
“Being a kid and causing trouble was just part of how we were.
“I’ve got a good relationship with all my family now.
“I think it was just the fact that I’m a lot like my mum so we used to clash a lot.
“Now, I can speak to her every day and we haven’t had a fight in two years nearly.”
Owen says the InBetweeners mentoring program helped him learn to trust again.
Ms Collins says it generally takes about six years to break the cycle of homelessness.
“That’s when they’re [clients] in a position to have no further contact with welfare agencies.
“And that’s where the programs that we run come into play because they actually support that development and they build the capacity within the young people.
“The young men’s program, the InBetweeners, is a pilot program. However, we’re already seeing some really positive outcomes.
“Mentoring is really about a positive relationship with a positive male and, generally speaking, most of the young males who come through our doors have not had that.
“They may not have any older males in their life or they’ve had a very dysfunctional relationship with them.
“So, for us, the mentor really just meant a positive relationship.”
For more information about Latitude, ring 9315 0061 or go to facebook.com/pages/Latitude-Directions-for-Young-People/226359067481792
