Brisbane’s Sisters of Mercy have donated a four-bedroom house to Centacare to support women experiencing homelessness in Beaudesert.
Peter and Julia*are in their early eighties. They’ve worked all their lives and forged a humble existence, paying their taxes and raising children in rural Queensland. Now, having received a notice to leave their rental property, they are on the verge of homelessness.
This Homelessness Week (7-13 August) we shine a light on the changing face of this growing national problem.
Centacare Service Leader Jodie Anson manages Homeless Accommodation and Housing Support services on the Fraser Coast. Her team walks alongside people who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness to identify immediate supports and pathways to safe and permanent accommodation.
“Across Queensland, one in every two hundred people are currently experiencing homelessness,” said Ms Anson.
“These people are sleeping rough, staying in temporary, unstable, or substandard accommodation, and many are elderly people who find themselves vulnerable due to fixed incomes and rising living costs.
“There are so many more cases like Peter and Julia’s. Between unscrupulous practices in real estate, a severe shortage in community housing, and the constantly rising cost of living, it’s working families and elderly people who are at risk.”
Brisbane’s Sisters of Mercy have donated a four-bedroom house to Centacare to support women experiencing homelessness in Beaudesert.
Peter and Julia weren’t given an option to renew the lease on their rented home of 10 years. Knowing the couple were on the aged care pension and were raising their two grandchildren, the landlord determined they wouldn’t be able to afford the 30 per cent rental increase.
The couple phoned the Centacare team earlier this year and were supported to secure another rental property.
“We referred the couple to the Department of Housing for a bond loan, rental grant, rental security subsidy and tenancy assistance through RentConnect to help pay for the bond clean, yard maintenance and a removalist truck,” said Ms Anson.
“Once Peter and Julia were settled in their new rental, we commenced conversations with My Aged Care around the implementation of in-home supports and with local community organisations to connect the couple with financial counselling and family wellbeing supports.”
“Every night when I tuck the children into bed, I think about the promise I made to their mother before she passed,” said Julia. “I promised her that, no matter what, I would keep her children safe. When we faced the threat of losing our home, the fear was overwhelming. I felt as if I was failing not just Peter and our great grandchildren, but their mother too.”
*The names in this article have been changed.
Are you experiencing challenges with your current tenancy or living arrangements?
Our Housing Support service will work with you to try resolve the issues and sustain your tenancy. Our service operates across the Fraser Coast, South Burnett and Bundaberg regions and in Childers and Gin Gin by appointment.
If you’d like to support people at risk of homelessness, Centacare accepts donations to support people with crisis accommodation, counselling, food and essential items.