Double stroke of luck for homeless Carly and Cooper

A mother and son who have been left struggling for a place to sleep while juggling jobs and school have finally struck some good luck.

Carly McIntyre, 40, and her son Cooper, 17, have scored a double victory after they were left homeless and forced to live in their car.

Talking Caravans boss Graham Potiphar has given Ms McIntyre a caravan rent free for three months – and Levi Caravan Park has matched that with free site rental.

“I heard the story a few times (on the radio) and I thought she seems pretty genuine … it was quite a sad story,” Mr Potiphar said.

“Carly’s not paying for the van or the actual site, which is good.

“It (the van) has a full queen bed, a bed for Cooper with a bunk on the front, toilet and shower are separate … a large fridge, a full oven, airconditioning, heating and cooling. It’s a good van.”

On Thursday, Ms McIntyre described Mr Potiphar as “a genuine, humble, down-to-earth man”.

“He’s just a gem. He didn’t at any point make me feel like I owed him anything or uncomfortable. It was like I have known him forever and he’s just doing a mate a favour,” Ms McIntyre said.

Ms McIntyre, who has applied for more than 300 rental properties, had been living in her car for eight months – during which time she lost her job, which required her to work from home.

“We received a notice that after nine years my lease would not be extended for another year, and we had to move out of the property,” she said.

Ms McIntyre said she soon realised the property market was not as easy as it was nine years ago and struggled to find a home to rent before her lease ended.

Cooper and his mum Carly, the new faces of homelessness. Picture: Mark Brake

Ms McIntyre stayed with family at first, then went to sleep in a tent in a caravan park before living in her car with her dog, Mitchy.

Her 17-year-old son, Cooper McInnes, has been sleeping on his mate’s couch at Mawson Lakes while juggling year 12 and two jobs.

“Even Cooper didn’t know I was staying in my car, he thought I was in the caravan park,” Ms McIntyre said.

When she first started living in her car, Ms McIntyre would drive around at night until the early hours until she felt safe to sleep.

She has a few hours work a week at a pub, although it is quite far from where she parks in Mawson Lakes.

While the 40-year-old has family and friends, she believes she shouldn’t have to ask them for help.

“In Australia I should be able to find a house, put a roof over my head and my kid’s head. I shouldn’t have to sleep in the lounge room of a family member’s house.” she said.

Ms McIntyre was not optimistic.

“I don’t actually see a way out of this,” she said.

“It’s been my world for a little while. I am aware of how bad the situation is. I am aware that there are other people out there, and I’m aware there are people worse off than me.”

Ms McIntyre said she wanted to warn others over just how quickly her family went from having a home to being homeless.

“The reality, and I can’t stress enough … this can actually happen to anyone,” she said.

Ms McIntyre said all she wanted was to live with her son and family again – including her dad, who was living with her until he had to move and stay with friends.

“It’s so hard. This isn’t how (my son is) supposed to be raised, in somebody else’s house. He’s supposed to be at home with me. I should be cooking him dinner,” she said.

Cooper said when he did manage to see his mum, they would spend a whole day together.

“I’m happy to go a couple of days without seeing each other because the times we do spend together are nice. We spend a lot of time with each other and make a day out of it,” he said.

Cooper has two casual jobs – one at a fruit and veg market, and the other as a furniture removalist.

“It’s school holidays at the moment so I have been working the past couple of weeks,” he said.

Between work and school, Cooper said he hardly gets days off but was working hard to get out of this predicament.

“I’m just trying to get away from where I am at the moment,” he said.

Cooper does not have a plan after completing year 12, but has always wanted to get into professional sport like cricket and basketball.

Cooper and Carly McIntyre with dog Mitchy. Picture: Mark Brake

While mother and son navigate their difficult situation, they said that their family did not know their circumstances until they told their story on Mix 102.3.

“I’ve had multiple friends reach out to me and say ‘I’m always here for you’, but that was only after the interview aired on the station … my nan and pop all found out from 102.3,” Cooper said.

Ali Clarke from Mix 102.3 first aired the family’s story and the station is planning Cooper’s 18th party, as well as helping others in similar situations.

“This has been really challenging for everyone, but we all remember that we are going home to a nice warm bed in a home,” Ms Clarke said.

“To actually hear what Carly’s going through, the sacrifices she’s had to make, but the sheer speed in which she went from having a job, savings, and goals to now sleeping in a car on the streets of Adelaide is frightening.”