Building our Next Door community
2 November 2020
One of the largely unspoken impacts of the COVID-19 crisis has been on our ability to network and build our communities. Between restrictions on travel and visiting friends, the cancellation of most events, and the general concern around interpersonal interactions, we have lost much of what used to bring us together. That’s why, as we […]
One year of Next Door: Lynette’s story
7 August 2020
For the first anniversary of our Next Door program, we wanted our client’s voices to be heard. This is Lynette’s* story. For you, the reader, to understand how amazing the Next Door Program and appreciate how amazing the staff has been to me and the many women they have helped, I need to share with you, just […]
One year of Next Door: Wendy’s story
7 August 2020
For the first anniversary of our Next Door program, we wanted our client’s voices to be heard. This is Wendy’s* story. I was in a pretty bad situation before Next Door. I had moved to Canberra after six years of caring for my daughter with disabilities in WA. I had gotten her set up in her own […]
One year of Next Door: Helen’s story
7 August 2020
For the first anniversary of our Next Door program, we wanted our client’s voices to be heard. This is Helen’s* story. I was pretty desperate before I encountered Next Door. I had been living with my ex-partner for around three years. It was toxic, but I didn’t have the resources to move out, either emotionally or financially. […]
One year of Next Door: Mary’s story
7 August 2020
For the first anniversary of our Next Door program, we wanted our client’s voices to be heard. This is Mary’s* story. A few years ago, I decided to lodge an application for public housing because one by one my children are leaving Canberra for a better job: one to Melbourne, another to Sydney. My youngest also decided […]
One year of Next Door: Cheryl’s story
7 August 2020
For the first anniversary of our Next Door program, we wanted our client’s voices to be heard. This is Cheryl’s* story. When I was referred to YWCA Canberra’s Next Door program, it’s no stretch to say it was a life-changing moment. As a homeless mature-age woman, I’d held onto the last shred of my dignity […]
Finding silver linings Next Door
15 May 2020
With all the negative stories in our news and social media feeds, it can be hard to find positives in our current situation. But here at YWCA Canberra, changes to our work brought on by COVID-19 have helped us help even more local women. Our Next Door program helps women age 50 and over to […]