Young Townsville mum, toddler left homeless amid rental crisis

A young Townsville mum has revealed how she and her 10-month-old son have been homeless for four unbearable months while struggling to find a house amid NQ’s growing rental crisis.

A young Townsville mum has revealed how she and her 10-month-old son have been homeless for four unbearable months while struggling to find a house amid NQ’s growing rental crisis.

Monique Geordie, 21, says she and her toddler have been homeless since April, forced to couch-surf and sleep in motels, while she continues her desperate search for a rental.

“It’s been exhausting,” she said.

“I don’t really care if I eat. Most of the time, I go without eating. I just worry for my son and make sure he’s got everything he needs.”

It comes as the number of people seeking assistance has doubled at Townsville’s Homelessness Hub this year, with nearly 5000 people making contact since January.

Townsville mum Monique Geordie and her 10-month-old son Dequan have been homeless for months while they desperately search for rentals. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Ms Geordie said she believes her rental applications weren’t being accepted predominantly because she doesn’t have a job.

“I want to get a job, but there’s no one to take care of my son, and I can’t afford child care,” she said.

The young mum said she recently resorted to setting up a GoFundMe appeal as her situation grows more desperate.

“I’m fundraising for a car, clothes for my 10-month-old son and me,” she said.

“I don’t have many people who can take my son and me around to places we need to go.

“I’m also hoping to buy things for my son and me and save a bit of money for when we get an actual place. So please help me raise some money.”

It comes as Townsville reported record low rental vacancies at just 0.6 per cent in the March quarter, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland.

Monique Geordie says there are nights she goes to bed hungry to make sure her son doesn’t go without as the cost of living keeps rising. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Red Cross’ acting regional operations manager Gabrielle McCosker said they were receiving a significant increase in calls from families who have never faced homelessness before sleeping in cars, tents and motels.

Queensland Council of Social Services chief executive Aimee McVeigh said the current housing crisis shows why the federal government’s National Rental Affordability Scheme shouldn’t be phased out.

“In Townsville, there are almost 500 properties which will be phased out between 2022 and 2025, with almost 100 on the chopping block this year,” she said.

“Each one of those properties represents a household – families and individuals stressed and anxious about the possibility of becoming homeless.”

You can donate to Monique’s GoFundMe appeal here: https://gofund.me/7ce5345c

Originally published as Young Townsville mum, toddler left homeless amid rental crisis