Single mum Claudia Murray almost at breaking point in desperate search for housing for her young son

A Sunshine Coast woman who is struggling to find housing has been to “hell and back” in her search for accommodation for her young son.

The harsh reality of homelessness has taken a toll on a Sunshine Coast mum who is desperate to find a place to live for her and her children.

Claudia Murray, 49, has been living with the constant worry that she won’t be able to provide a roof for her 13-year-old son for almost two years.

After a relationship breakdown, Ms Murray found herself stranded jumping between motels, airbnbs and any place she could find of a night-time to sleep.

She’s even sought mental health treatment to deal with the stress and anxiety caused by the possibility of homelessness.

Ms Murray, who is a professional cleaner and just graduated from a Bachelor of Psychology, said she’s done everything she can to try to get accommodation in the Noosa region, where her teenage son goes to school.

“I’m competing with people who have a property but just want to escape Covid (down south) in the sunshine,” she said.

Ms Murray had been living with a Marcus Beach couple who she said “rescued her” her in during a rough patch but had since decided to sell and she needed somewhere else to live.

LOCKED OUT CAMPAIGN

She’s now had to dipping into her superannuation for a fourth time in two years in a bid to secure housing but said it’s hard when you’re competing against people on dual income who are willing to pay more than the asking price for a rental.

Ms Murray said she’s contacted every agency, including the housing department, but there was “absolutely nothing” available despite her getting a Centrelink income when cleaning jobs aren’t available.

“I’m using every moment of the day searching for somewhere to live,” she said.

“But because I don’t have a permanent job with a pay slip, I’m between a rock and a hard place.”

Ms Murray said she believes people need to find “compassion” for those going through similar situations, and while she appreciates suggestions that she should move elsewhere, the reality is her life revolves around the Coast.

“I have a son who is of an age that is vulnerable, he’s facing his third school in a year”, she said.

“No matter what we do, there is no where to live and I am very worried”.

Ms Murray said she could see the rental market evaporating because of “greed”, with landlords putting up the rent for the sake of a profit.

“I’m shocked by the greediness, there’s people who have two or three properties and they’re still putting prices up,” she said.

“How much is enough?”

But despite the looming prospect she’ll once again be living out of a motel room, or worse in her car, she is hopeful as long as the community as a whole was willing to find a solution.

“People who can help won’t,” she said.

“Human compassion is lacking.”