Assunta

Hello I’m Assunta, welcome to my vendor profile. My life motto is take me as I am. Or, perhaps: if I was meant to be controlled, I would have come with a remote. I read that one on Facebook, and use it often. I’ve got spina bifida and scoliosis. For me, I don’t consider it a challenge: you’ve got this, you can beat it. You do the best that you can.

I was born and bred in Perth. School was good and bad. I had some good teachers, I had some bad teachers. On the weekends I’d go to my grandmother’s place and do all the gardening for her (except the roses), and help her with the housework. Mum and I helped her with the shopping. I have a tattoo of a flower on my wrist.

I finished school after Year 10, when I was 14 or 15. With my disability, I went on what they called the invalid pension back in the day, which is now the DSP. I tried to get a few jobs, and I worked in a few workshops involving metal fabrication and woodwork. I left after a few years because of ongoing back issues. I started selling The Big Issue in 2011.

Mum and Dad had issues with me being transgender. I felt I should have been born a girl from maybe five or six years of age. My mum sort of sensed my gender dysphoria. When I moved out of home and got my own place in my early twenties, that was that. I made a decision that this is what I need to do. Mum said she was happy that I was able to be me. My father, unfortunately, for some reason, couldn’t accept it. In the end, I said: “If you can’t accept it, that’s your problem.” My mum passed away in 1988, when I was 23 or 24. And I lost contact with my dad.

The first time I experienced homelessness was back in 2008. I was on the streets in the middle of winter for two-and-a-half months. I was able to get into shelters for one or two nights here and there. I’d sleep on buses and trains. I’d ride around on public transport all day to basically see what’s happening in the world. My GP at the time let me keep a suitcase in his rooms so that I wouldn’t have to drag it around all the time.

Up until February this year, I had stable accommodation. Having a home means a lot less stress. Being homeless, I find it really, really stressful. It’s one of the reasons I sell The Big Issue, because it takes my mind off it, and I focus on the customers. I’m a practical joker. I’ll say to a customer: “Look out, there is a crocodile behind you! By the way, would you like a magazine?”

When one door closes, another opens. I’m trying to get into social housing. I’ve put my name down at a few places, and I’m waiting for a room to come up. We need more crisis accommodation. I want to say to the politicians: you’ve got the funding, you know what needs to be done.

I like making coffee. Once I’ve done my barista course, I’d like to possibly set up a little espresso bar somewhere. It’s a one-day intensive course. I am thinking of maybe moving to Brisbane, and looking forward to hopefully selling The Big Issue over there.

Assunta sells The Big Issue on Angelo Street, South Perth, and Royal Street, Perth.

Interview by Amy Hetherington
Photo by Ross Swanborough

Published in Ed#717