It was 2018, and Julie said she and her five kids were left with nowhere to go. Over several months they went from couch surfing to sleeping in a tent at a caravan park in the freezing cold.

“No matter what you did, you just can’t get warm – it’s bone chilling cold,” she said.

“It’s sleepless nights because you’re always on alert, because you’ve got young kids.

“Trying to feed them decent food while you’re sleeping in a tent is near impossible.”

Julie and her children spent months without a home and has since gotten back on her feet after going through the 2nd Shot Traineeship program with Base Services. Picture: Bella Munro.

Julie, who is diabetic, said her time on the streets was a risk to her life.

“I couldn’t even keep my diabetic medication in the fridge,” she said.

“There’s so many factors that people just don’t realise that you’re going through every day.”

Julie said she ended up on the streets that winter after her relationship broke down.

“You don’t know a person’s story so when you come across somebody just treat them like you would anybody else because you just don’t know what’s led them to this situation,” she said.

“We make all these assumptions but we’ve just got no idea and it can be something as simple as a marriage breakdown and then that’s it, your life spirals out of control.

“Take the time to recognise that they’re human like the rest, we’re all human and it can happen to any of us at any given time.”

On Monday, August 4, Base Services held their annual Homeless Week Expo at the Toowoomba Library Precinct, bringing together dozens of local support services.

The event included housing assistance services, drug and alcohol services,

Julie wasn’t at the expo to get support. This year she was there to support others in the same situation she was in a few years ago.

Dozens of local support services set up stalls at the Homeless Week Expo on August 4, 2025. Picture: Bella Munro.

After getting emergency housing through St Vincent’s she started a traineeship through Base Service’s 2nd Shot program.

The program offers training and temporary work for homeless people at 2nd Shot Cafe on Ruthven St.

Julie said she wouldn’t be here today without the program.

“That experience, it changed my life,” she said.

“I had no confidence, and I’d been out of work for so long.

“I was able to then have the confidence to go on and study and get a job.”

More than 80 people signed up to take part in Base Service’s Homeless for a night fundraiser on Monday night.

Dozens of local support services set up stalls at the Homeless Week Expo on August 4, 2025. Picture: Bella Munro.

Ann Lampe and Jim Stein working at Rosie’s stand at the Homeless Expo day. Picture: Bella Munro

Max (middle) with Toowoomba Winter Shelter volunteers and Reverend Pauline Harley (right). Picture: Bella Munro

Max has been in and out of homelessness for years and said the dedicated volunteers at Toowoomba Winter Shelter saved his life. Picture: Bella Munro

Tony’s Community Kitchen was one of the many services that came to support rough sleepers at the Homeless Expo Day. Picture: Bella Munro

Dozens of local support services set up stalls at the Homeless Week Expo on August 4, 2025. Picture: Bella Munro.

Annie (left) has spent years without a place to call home and at the Homeless Expo Day she got her hair cut by hairdresser Rachel Michel. Picture: Bella Munro

Hairdressers volunteered from Hair Aid to offer free haircuts at Homeless Expo day. Picture: Bella Munro

Ann Lampe and Jim Stein working at Rosie’s stand at the Homeless Expo day. Picture: Bella Munro