Mackay homeless people reveal how hard it is to be without housing

Just metres from a Bunnings and a major arterial road carrying more than 20,000 vehicles each day, one couple is living in a makeshift tent camp with no running water and little hope for the future.

Behind a petrol station in Richmond, the reality of Mackay’s housing crisis is on shocking display.

Just metres from the station and close to a popular shopping precinct, one couple live out their days in squalid conditions, squatting near a creek in a tent with no running water and a tarpaulin that doesn’t stop them from getting wet when it rains.

The man, who does not wish to be named, has lived there for four months with his partner after he was forced to leave his sister’s apartment in nearby Beaconsfield.

In his telling, the body corporate would not allow him to stay there with his dog.

He holds a job as a pipe layer and pulls in about $1000 a week when working, but steady employment was not enough to secure a rental.

The man, his dog and his partner are living in a tent behind a petrol station. Picture: Duncan Evans

With nowhere to go, he set up in a hidden spot on the edge of Mackay-Bucasia Rd.

Four months ago, he had $8000 to his name, but that has all gone, chewed up by food, new clothes, dog food and “taxis to get around”.

He has no money coming in over the Christmas period and will rely on Centrelink payments to survive.

The couple has a small generator, which they have placed away from the tent near the creek, and a makeshift shower.

There is no running water and the man said he and his partner used toilets at service stations.

Sometimes, he said he would “dig a hole” near the tent.

He was blunt when asked what it was like to live this way.

The makeshift shower. Picture: Duncan Evans

“It is f***ing crap,” he said.

“It f***ing ruins you.

“Just constant stress.

“Always worried about what is going to happen next.”

The man has 17 siblings but said he would not go to them for help.

“They are out for themselves,” he said.

The man has a criminal history and a long association with drugs.

He said he had used methylamphetamine for 20 years but had been clean now for three.

Councillor Martin Bella wants more action on housing across Mackay. Picture: Duncan Evans

Last week, during a sudden surge of rain and lightning, Councillor Martin Bella stopped by to talk with the man and promised to do what he could to help.

Speaking later, Mr Bella said no one should have to live in this way, regardless of personal history, and said he wanted to see the council put up “400 dongas” to deliver some relief for those suffering through housing stress.

Mr Bella said he wanted to reorient the discussion away from “housing” to “accommodation” and argued people living in squalid conditions presented an immediate health crisis.

Mackay’s rental vacancy rate is 0.5 per cent and median rent was $425 in the September quarter, up from $400 in December 2021.

The council offers incentives to encourage housing development, but there is not enough supply to meet demand, particularly with a prosperous mining sector eager to bring in more workers to the region.

The man, his dog and his partner are squatting on private property near Mackay-Bucasia Rd. Picture: Duncan Evans

But following a statewide summit in October focused on housing stress, more money for the problem is in the pipeline.

The government’s Housing Investment Fund, which offers subsidies and grants to developers and investors to build or redevelop more housing, has doubled to $2bn, and the summit threw off an extra $56m.

From that $56m, $10m will be earmarked to deliver more temporary emergency accommodation.

For the man, his dog and his partner, it is expensive being poor and homeless.

The weekend’s gush of rain seeped in and now he has to shell out for another covering.

“The tarp is just about ruined,” he said.