Luke
Luke arrived to Rainbow Lodge direct from custody on 24th January 2023. He is a 47-year old male who arrived after having served a six-year sentence. Luke has an extensive criminal history with charges including the possession and supply of a commercial quantity of drugs, as well as possession of a prohibited weapon, and manufacturing and fraud charges.
Luke was neglected as a child, and at the age of nine was forced to make drug deliveries for his mother, who was substance dependent. By eleven, Luke’s mother had also introduced him to cannabis and alcohol. Luke has an extensive history of trauma and from the age of seven was physically and emotionally abused by his mother’s partner. Luke was abused so severely that from the age of twelve he was forced to sleep in an abandoned bird aviary in his mother’s backyard, in attempts to escape the violence. It was at this time that Luke was forced to leave home altogether, where he lived on the streets and his substance use escalated, as did his involvement in criminal activities. At this time, Luke reports drinking one litre of alcohol a day, and using daily hallucinogens. By fifteen years of age, he was injecting methamphetamine daily.
While Luke found employment as a young adult, working in security and hospitality, ongoing drug use saw him lose this employment, resulting in him committing higher levels of crime in order to support his habit. Following his release from custody, he entered the Rainbow Lodge Program, which he completed. While at Rainbow Lodge, he attended daily groups and received regular counselling with a Psychologist. Luke was further supported with his caseworker nominating him for transitional housing in the community, as well as applying for long-term housing through HNSW. After receiving news that he was successful in gaining a house within the community, Luke was then successful in receiving long-term housing, which led to him moving into his “forever home”.
In addition, with the support of Rainbow Lodge, Luke has been able to gain employment with Mates on the Move, where he continues to thrive. Luke has started to study his Cert IV in Community Services at TAFE and does other work through St John’s Church, where he undertakes various jobs, like painting the homes of elderly church-goers. Luke continues to reside independently, has also re-connected with his sister, and remains drug free and happy.
