Pete is in his early 40s and has an ILA which helps him maintain his independence. He has a team of “mentors” (support workers) who support Pete for a number of hours each day with things like work, grocery shopping and making appointments. He is also supported by a financial administrator who helps him manage his money. As part of his ILA, Peter also has a housemate, Simon, who provides companionship, guidance and a positive example.
Pete and Simon have been living together for nearly a decade, since Simon was a university student.
“I’d been living with another guy for three years, when the My Place coordinator got in touch and said this guy Peter was looking for a housemate and thought I’d be a good fit. The rest is history.”
Pete and Simon are housemates living in a villa (townhouse) in Osborne Park, Perth. It’s a private rental they chose together, after starting their journey in social housing. As part of Pete’s ILA, Simon’s rent is paid by My Place.
In return, Simon provides the companionship and positive example that Pete needs to stay on track. Since living with Simon, Pete has proudly started both a car-washing and gardening business, become better with his money, cut back on his Xbox gaming and developed a more consistent personal routine.
“Overall, I think Pete sees me as an older brother. He just kind of feels more like he’s accountable to me. Like he cares what I think.”
Each day, Pete and Simon do their own thing but come together over shared passions – such as The Walking Dead, basketball and AFL.
“Pete’s a big Geelong Cats fan and I go for Collingwood and we really lean into that. It gets us going during the week and always gives us something to look forward to. I play the song for my team the day before and he’ll fight back and put his song on even louder. We get hyped up.”
The pair have struck up a genuine friendship over the years and would hang out even if they didn’t live together.
The respect is mutual. For Pete, Simon’s presence has improved Pete’s self-confidence and made him feel like he belongs. “We’re pretty well known in Osborne Park when we walk around. The coffee shop knows we’re housemates, and that makes Pete feel like he matters – like he’s not some stranger who doesn’t fit in.”
Pete also plays a significant role for Simon, whose family have gradually drifted away from Perth. “He’s just a good person. A happy, positive person and I like living with a happy, positive person.”
Pete grew up in the foster care system before moving into social housing on his own. Being able to come home to a housemate like Simon has brought valuable stability into his life.
“I like coming home to a home where someone else is there instead of it being by myself,” Pete says.
Pete and Simon continue to take it day by day but plan to live with each other for the foreseeable future or until “he gets sick of me one day,” Simon says.
Having grown up around people with a disability, Simon approached living with Pete with an open mind and encourages other people to do the same.
“Dip your toes in, meet a couple of times. You’ve just got to develop trust. Once you trust each other all the rest will figure itself out.”