But the inspirational 46-year-old felt almost obliged to tell of how she was able to turn her life around in hope of helping others.

“I hesitated because I thought, ‘What’s this going to do to my future employment’, and then I thought, ‘No, I’m going to tell my story and share it and I’m going to walk into my future with my head held high’,” Ms Prince-Doyle said.

“I’d rather tell my story and get it out there and be an inspiration for change and just inspire others that might be homeless or heading towards homeless that they can change their past, and don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way.”

NSW Governor David Hurley launched My Connections Home - Journeys through homelessness at Newcastle TAFE on March 22 and described it as “a privilege” to associated with the project, aiming to raise awareness and finds for homeless people.

The book features nine profiles of formerly homeless Hunter residents and will be sold to raise funds for the next Hunter Homeless Connect Day, which is held annually and provides a range of free services, such as health checks, haircuts and clothing to homeless people.

“They are very brave people who have given their stories about how they became homeless and their lives have now changed around through what Hunter [Homeless] Connect and the associated community effort has done for them,” the Governor said.

“I think it’s a very powerful book.”

Ms Prince-Doyle turned around “a very turbulent life” after surviving domestic violence, substance and alcohol abuse and homelessness.

She is now employed full-time as a team leader in crisis care and hopes her story can help others.

“The biggest fear I had was keeping everything quiet,” she said.

“I guess because you carry shame around so long, especially around domestic violence …  and the secrecy behind it, and I was so worried that my ex might use my past against me in my future.”

The book shares stories of how a variety of people became homeless and the message at the launch was it could happen to anyone.

“It’s a learning tool that I hope gets taken into the future for other organisations to remember the importance of treating a person as a person, not a just faceless bum on the street that’s no good to society,” Ms Prince-Doyle said.

“That’s not who we are. And I keep saying that because I will never forget where I came from. I came from nothing and I still have nothing except for who I am, and I’m really proud of that.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates approximately 28,000 people are homeless in NSW, and seven per cent of those are in the Hunter region.

The 2016 Hunter Homeless Connect Day featured more than 85 service providers and was attended by more than 1000 people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Find out more at www.hunterhomelessconnect.org.au.