Young parents experience Christmas Cheer in Geelong
Young parents experience Christmas Cheer in Geelong
14 December 2021
An army of volunteers from the Bellarine Peninsula Salvos served young parents during last year’s Christmas Cheer at the Geelong Corps. (From left) Ted, Faye, Al, Bella and Ella.
The halls of Geelong Corps buzz with excitement in the lead-up to 25 December. The Christmas Cheer campaign is in full swing, and Doorways and Salvation Army Homelessness Barwon clients are eager to hand-select gifts for their kids.
Zenta Schubert, a worker with the Supporting Young Parents Program, is in the middle of it all. Her role is to assist parents aged 25 and under who are at risk of homelessness. She says it has become increasingly difficult over the past two years for her clients to find a permanent home, let alone a safe place to celebrate Christmas.
“Christmas Cheer is so amazing [for our clients]. Before Christmas, they’ll be so worried about being able to afford something for their children. It’s a huge cost to lay-by, and there are a lot of pay-later schemes that are really unscrupulous. So, I’ll try to get in there early and say, ‘Don’t do that, we’re going to help you access some Christmas presents’,” explains Zenta. “It really makes their day. And it even feels like Santa’s come for the parents as well!”
This generosity is a welcome relief for her clients – many being single mothers. While the festive season can be a time of joy and hope, estranged relationships that have been amplified due to COVID-19 make it a bittersweet experience for many of them.
“Christmas is often a very difficult time of year because they often do have difficult relationships with family, or they’ve lost relationships. And, in some cases, they have left behind an abusive partner or family violence. So, the picture-perfect Christmas idea really brings up the fact that they don’t have that perfect family,” Zenta says.
The pandemic has amplified this stress, with many clients couch-surfing or living in transitional housing while they work towards a permanent home. A severe lack of affordable housing in Geelong means clients often need over two years of support through the youth programs to find stable housing. And, tragically, the team knows that some women experiencing domestic violence will choose to stay with the abuser due to lack of housing.
This makes the Supporting Young Parents Program a lifeline in the region. And amid lockdowns, resulting in the closure of playgroups and parenting resources, Zenta and the team have continually adapted to empower their clients. Some days, they even conduct three-way phone calls between clients and Centrelink.
“Since COVID 19, most of our support has been over the phone, [giving us] a chance to check-in and debrief,” reflects Zenta. “We have also been able to advocate for our vulnerable families to be able to continue to access childcare during lockdown. [This is] so important for the children to continue to access a safe space, maintain routines and educational experiences while living in difficult circumstances – and [is] welcome respite for parents.”
Many young parents in Geelong are doing it tough, but their daily resilience is inspiring to say the least. In 2021, clients in the Supporting Young Parents Program have managed mental health issues, reconnected with family, found employment and a home of their own. Ultimately, these parents are survivors. And with the help of Christmas Cheer, they get to see their kids’ faces light up on Christmas morning.
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