Before he met the Wembley cake shop owner eight months ago, Luke (whose surname has been withheld) held a cardboard sign: "Homeless, hungry, looking for work" outside Leederville IGA.
Today, the 20-year-old is almost unrecognisable from his past life.
From sleeping rough every night and selling The Big Issue to eat, Luke has now moved into his own unit, qualified as a barista, earned his L-plates and enrolled to finish high school at Tuart College.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW"Im most proud that Flavia and I are still a team," he said.
"I call her my"mum" now, which is funny because she's too young to be my mum, but she is the most stable person who has ever come into my life.
"Flavia tells me to try small goals so we take one day at a time rather than trying to think years in the future. I always want to make sure I have a roof over my head."
Sugarplum Sweets baker Mrs Harris said the past eight months had been filled with highs and lows.
"I truly had no idea what I was getting myself in to," she said.
"All I knew was I couldn't leave Luke on the streets, but I didn't think beyond that.
"To all of a sudden being responsible for a teenage life can be quite overwhelming. Combined with opening my first shop, well, let's just call it the craziest thing I have ever done."
Mrs Harris said she could not wait for the world to make more sense to Luke once he completed his high school education.
"The kid is a sponge, so I think he will be far more confident and it will make him absolutely unstoppable," she said.
"Since meeting Luke I have a new family member.
"Even though he has his own place, friends and job now, he is still my responsibility. He trusts me with his future and his life. It is quite amazing."
Luke said his birthday in January could not have been more different from last year, which had been the "saddest day" of his life.
"I didn't have anyone say"happy birthday" to me, so I really wondered if anyone would actually care if I wasn't around," he said.
"This year Flavia and her husband took me out for dinner the night before, and then she made my favourite salted caramel mud cake in the shape of a pot of spaghetti bolognaise.
"Customers wished me"happy birthday" all day and even gave me presents. "It was so cool."