Opinion
Len JamesContributor
December 22, 2025 — 2:00am
December 22, 2025 — 2:00am
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I became homeless when I was 58 and spent two years as a rough sleeper, and two Christmases on the streets of Perth.
Christmas on the streets hits you pretty hard. The usual places you go for some air-conditioning or something to do – public spaces like the library – are closed.
Len James spent two years living on the streets of Perth.
You’re reminded of all the things you don’t have, like decent food and a comfortable bed. It feels like being on the outside looking in. But then again, so does every day when you’re homeless.
When I became homeless in 2008, it took me by complete surprise. I was happy with my life, working, socialising, spending my money.
One day at home I bent over to pick something up and had this excruciating pain. I couldn’t work and went onto Centrelink benefits. I became very depressed, and was struggling to get by.
I got behind in my rent. I packed a backpack and walked out the door. At the real estate office, I spoke to the receptionist, “I can’t pay the back rent. I’ve come to return the keys. I’m on the streets now.”
As I was going out, she called me back. For a moment, I thought she might say we could work something out, maybe I could stay a bit longer.
But instead, she asked me to sign a form so they could access the bond money. That was it. I was on the outside looking in.
When it got dark, I headed out of the city and walked to Highgate to a row of houses that had been converted to businesses.
I went behind a low wall, and lay down on the concrete, using my backpack as a pillow. I didn’t have a sleeping bag or blankets. I was totally unprepared.
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Three days later, I hadn’t had a shower or changed clothes. It hadn’t taken long, but by then I felt like a homeless person.
I went to Centrelink and asked for help, and they gave me a list of places where I could get free food, have a shower, and talk to social workers at drop-in centres. But those services can all be daunting too.
Looking back, if I could have got help at Centrelink when I’d only been on the streets for a few days, if someone had intervened and said they’d get me into a room or work with me to keep me off the streets, that would have saved me years.
Eventually, I was offered public housing. The rent was affordable. My health had deteriorated badly.
Later I was put on a disability pension because of my chronic back pain and depression. Those two things — affordable housing and the disability pension — made the world of difference.
But after two years being on the outside looking in, I found it hard to make friends. Most people make friends through work or socialising.
I wasn’t able to work and didn’t have the money to socialise. I started going back to the people I knew on the streets and to drop-in centres just to have a coffee and talk.
When you come off the streets, sitting alone in a room without talking to anyone can send you back to the streets.
Homelessness is not something people bring on themselves. There are many people struggling, and it’s not their fault.
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Life throws things at you that you don’t see coming. It’s usually illness, mental or physical, or a relationship breakdown.
With a bit of help at a critical time, people can recover. For me, back when I was first homeless, the biggest difference would have been someone genuinely caring and being interested in helping me find accommodation.
This Christmas, while you’re enjoying being on the inside with your loved ones, spare a thought for those on the outside who are living on WA’s streets and looking in.
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Len James is a lived experience advocate with No Place for Poverty.Most Viewed in NationalFrom our partners