‘This is my home.’

“I thought I was 52 this year, but it turns out I’m actually 62!” Louise laughs. “I’ve lost count, but my daughter keeps reminding me.”

Louise has lived in the Rooming House Plus Program (RHPP) building on Queens Road for 14 years. Her studio apartment here has everything she needs: somewhere to sleep, space for her possessions, and the privacy of her own kitchenette and bathroom.

“This is the longest I’ve ever stayed anywhere in my whole life,” she says. “I can shut the door and be in my own home—what’s out there stays out there.”

Louise is a former truck driver and self-described ‘lonely old lady with hip problems’ after a failed hip operation left her with declining mobility. “This was about eight years ago,” Louise says. “Now I’ve got a walker, and it’s held my life down.”

The Rooming House Plus Program (RHPP) is a 66-bedsit apartment building delivered through a partnership between Community Housing Limited, which manages the housing and tenancies, and Sacred Heart Mission, which provides onsite support to residents.

Nine of the self-contained units here are designed to accommodate people with disabilities, with many residents living with ongoing physical and mental health challenges following years of homelessness.

Despite the daily struggles of chronic pain, Louise still finds ways to connect with others. “My favourite thing is just meeting people in the mornings, seeing that they’re still alive,” she says. “It’s good to hear someone say hello back—to be acknowledged. In the lift I can spark a quick conversation.”

These small, everyday interactions can help foster a sense of belonging and community, alongside social inclusion programs which include group art therapy. “I’ve come out of my shell a bit,” says Louise, reflecting on her weekly visits to the art studio.

The studio is where residents gather to connect through creative expression without judgement, receive support from fellow resident artists, and process emotions through art and conversation. They can meet with RHPP’s Art Therapist and Social Inclusion Worker Lyra for individual or group sessions.

“Creative arts therapy allows people to creatively express their lived experiences without words,” says Lyra. “Sessions facilitated by a social inclusion worker who is a qualified arts therapist supports improvements in mental health, increase confidence, foster a sense of self, and help people explore their creative identity.”

For Louise, group art therapy has become a comfortable place where her warmth and humour shine through.

“We laugh a lot in the studio. It’s a place to interact with others, and I get to make stuff—that’s the fun part!”

Outside of the studio, Louise has built some solid friendships in the community around her.

“There’s a good tenant here who cooks for me every night. We moved here in the same month, and we’ve been friends for 14 years now.”

Knowing staff are onsite when she needs them has also helped her feel supported and settled here. “Staff make a big difference; they make me feel safe.”

RHPP’s central location gives residents the opportunity to stay connected to the wider community, with the places Louise knows and enjoys within reach. “Everything’s close: trams, the city, St Kilda, Prahran. It’s just so easy.”

And then there are places that hold special memories from earlier chapters of her life. “I’ve got good memories of Albert Park from my childhood. I’d like to have my ashes spread there.”

After 14 years in stable housing, Louise is clear about one thing:

“This is my home.”