Michael sleeps in the stairwell of the hat shop next to Flinders St station Frontyard homeless services.
“I’ve been on and off on the streets since I was eight. I don’t get along with my foster parents or anything. I had a job down here, but I lost my job, so ended up back on the streets. I live at the front of the hat shop near Flinders Street Station.

I don’t get on with my real parents that well, so the people on the streets are my family. I’d like to be in a. house, with a TV and a fridge full of beer, and having a job too would be good. I look for a job every now and then, but not much luck because I haven’t got any good clothes or anything.

I started off shoplifting and that, then I sort of grew into knocking off cars and selling them to garages and just anyone who wanted them. Started stealing anything that wasn’t bolted down really, and selling it, got to know the prices of everything. I only steal when I have to now, like if I need a new pair of socks and I haven’t got any money, I’ll knock ‘em of. I stopped because I got caught too many times and locked up…It put me off being caught, anyway. I had a drug habit at the time, so I needed money for that. Then I had a daughter, and as soon as she opened her eyes - I was on the smack when she opened her eyes - it just straightened me up.”