With pink-and-purple streaked hair, oversized glasses, and a calm confidence beyond her years, Paige radiates creative energy and quiet determination. She’s a teenager with big dreams and a growing sense of what it really means to feel at home — and for Paige that also means having a place in a hallway to keep her muddy boots.
The boots? They come from long walks with the dogs no one else wants — the barkers, the biters, the broken-hearted. Paige has a gift for calming them. It’s not just a job; it’s a kind of mirror. In caring for them, she’s learning to care for herself too — patiently, gently, one step at a time.
And then there’s Deborah — the one who makes that hallway feel like home. As Paige’s Supported Lodgings host, Deborah doesn’t just offer a safe place to stay, or a spot for muddy boots to live. She offers a steady presence, a listening ear, and the kind of everyday guidance that helps a young person learn how to live with someone else — how to share space, take responsibility, and begin the quiet shift from surviving to thriving.
Paige was just 17 when her relationship with her family broke down. Like so many young people, the reasons were complex — layered with tension, miscommunication, and the growing pains of adolescence. Home became a place of conflict instead of comfort. Eventually, she was asked to leave.
“Things were getting a bit rocky,” Paige recalls. “Then I got into a hostel, which I absolutely hated.”
She found herself alone, navigating a world she wasn’t prepared for — a world where emotional support was scarce and the next step unclear.
That’s when she was introduced to our Supported Lodgings service.
Supported Lodgings is built for young people like Paige — those who aren’t quite ready to live independently, but who are ready to grow. It’s more than housing; it’s a safe, stable environment with a host who offers everyday guidance, emotional support, and the chance to learn what it means to live alongside others.
Paige was matched with Deborah, a warm, grounded host with a big heart and two cats. Their connection was instant.
“I think we were really well matched,” Deborah says with a smile. “We’ve got a similar sense of humour. We just get each other. She loves animals — I’ve got cats — so she fitted in really well.”
It’s a gentle, mutual relationship. No dramatic breakthroughs, just consistent care — and a hallway lined with tiny, meaningful moments.
Like the cardboard box in the corner. A quiet nudge from Deborah for Paige’s ever-muddy dog-walking boots.
“She never said anything,” Paige laughs. “But I got the message.”
It’s more than boot storage. It’s a sign of shared living, mutual respect, and learning the rhythms of home life — something many of us take for granted, but for Paige, it’s been a journey of firsts.
Paige is building her independence one day at a time. And it shows — in the way she speaks about her routines, her responsibilities, and yes, even her cleaning.
“Hate to admit it,” she grins, “but I’m definitely better at cleaning. I can look after myself now.”
Her passion for dog-walking has been more than a job — it’s a mirror of her personal growth. Taking on the most reactive dogs, she’s developed her own patient, intuitive techniques. And in the same way she builds trust with nervous animals, she’s learned, with help from Deborah, to build trust in herself.
“Being here has definitely helped me prepare for adulthood,” she reflects. “It’s hard to grow up when you come from certain situations. But it’s nice to have that support there.”
She adds, with a sheepish smile:
“Deborah gives good advice… which I sometimes take.”
Paige isn’t rushing into the future. She’s taking her time, planning carefully, and anchoring herself in the present. She’s now been with Deborah for nearly a year and intends to stay for two. It’s a timeline that gives her space to learn, breathe, and build a foundation.
“I’d like to have my own place someday,” she says thoughtfully. “But I don’t think I would’ve been able to do it without Deborah’s support first.”
Paige’s story is one of thousands. Last year alone, over 118,000 young people approached local authorities because they were at risk of homelessness. Family breakdown — like Paige’s — is one of the most common causes. And while emergency shelters are a lifeline, they’re not a solution.
Supported Lodgings offers something different. Something lasting.
It’s a bridge between crisis and independence. A place where young people can heal, learn, and start again — with someone walking beside them.
Deborah sees Paige’s journey up close. The creativity, the courage, the quiet changes. From mastering laundry to caring for complex dogs, each step is one Paige takes with more confidence.
“She’s just getting on with life,” Deborah says. “And it’s beautiful to see.”
Paige still draws in her spare time — transforming ordinary moments into something meaningful, something hers. That’s what Supported Lodgings is about. Giving young people the tools — and the time — to build their own version of home.
