Adelaide mum who lived in tent finally has a home in time for Christmas

An Adelaide mum who spent years living in terror with her son “in a tent in the bush” has finally found a home in time for Christmas – but the hardship is far from over.

After three years of living rough in a tent and rooming house, a single mother and her teenage son will finally spend Christmas in their own home.

But while Anne Marie Anderson is one of the lucky few to make it off the street, keeping up with the cost of living is still an uphill battle.

“I wouldn’t be able to pay my rent without help from the food bank at the moment,” Anne Marie Anderson said.

“I’m paying over 50 per cent of my income on rent (...) being able to provide meals (has) become something of a luxury.”

Ms Anderson and her son Moss spent two years in their southern suburbs rental before it was sold in 2021, leaving them with nowhere to go.

Moss Anderson won the 2024 Southern Suburbs Volunteer Service Award. Picture: Facebook

The tent used while Anne Marie Anderson was living rough. Picture: Supplied

Prior to this, she never imagined that she’d ever be “living in a tent in the bush” with her then 15-year-old son.

“It was really scary for us, I was physically assaulted, I had to call the police multiple times, I had things stolen, sleep disorders, all sorts of things,” she said.

Ms Anderson described homelessness as a situation of constant stress.

“I’ve had to live with my phone on, recording my situation nearly every day, for months on end in case something happened to me, because the situations are potentially volatile and you just don’t know when that’s going to happen.”

Southern suburbs mum Anne Marie Anderson shared her story at the Anti Poverty Network’s cost of living protest. Picture: Supplied

It was especially hard for Moss who could no longer attend school and began struggling with his mental health, she said.

They eventually moved into a boarding house where Ms Anderson was paying $380 each week for her son to have his own room while she slept in an alcove.

The two of them found comfort in their studies with Ms Anderson finishing her Bachelors degree in archaeology while Moss completing a foundation course at uni.

He also began volunteering with Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries, receiving the 2024 Southern Suburbs Volunteer Service Award for his efforts.

Protesters are calling on urgent action on the housing and cost of living crisis. Picture: Supplied

After an endless stream of rejections, they were finally able to move into a private rental in time for Christmas two weeks ago.

“I’m still waiting to cry actually (...) it’s been very overwhelming,” Ms Anderson said.

On Tuesday, Ms Anderson took to the Parliament House to share her story as part of a protest organised by the Anti Poverty Network, calling for urgent action on the housing crisis.

“For some families, the holidays is a lovely time to get together and celebrate but for others, it fills them with dread because they don’t have enough money to put on a proper spread,” assistant campaigner Anna Tate said.

Freezing rents and raising Jobseeker and Youth Allowance payments would help ease this burden, she said.

“People will be able to save for their goals and not just be living hand-to-mouth every week.”