Gail Dixon, 36, speaks up about housing and cost of living crisis

A mum of three facing cold winter nights living out of her Commodore in Brisbane’s north has made a desperate call for help after already spending five years on a waitlist for a place to call home.

A North Brisbane mother of three has called for help after many cold winter nights spent living in her car.

Gail Dixon, 36, is now homeless after spending years waiting for a housing application approval and struggling to make ends meet with the cost of living increase.

“I have no safe place to go,” she said.

“I’m in my car at the moment, it’s not an ideal situation but it’s all I’ve got.”

The North Brisbane woman has been staying in her Holden Commodore in areas of Strathpine and Redcliffe for the past few months.

“I’ve been on housing wait lists for five years, there have been no call backs, no follow through, nothing,” Ms Dixon said.

“The little people are being pushed out of the door, I just thought the community would be supported better really.”

Gill Dixon, 36, has been living out of her car for the past couple of months.

The mother of three had been renting previously when she lost her job and found rental prices too high to pay.

“I didn’t have anyone to turn to.”

Ms Dixon said the most difficult part of being homeless was not having access to showers or toilet facilities.

“The amenities are the worse part, there used to be showers in Redcliffe, I’m frustrated that they’re gone,” she said.

“Being able to have a hot shower, just cleaning yourself up and being able to feel okay, just to feel a bit human.”

The price for Ms Dixon’s small storage shed has doubled in the last two months, she now spends more than $300 a month in order to stow away her personal belongings.

“That’s where all my money is taken up with, paying storage.”

Ms Dixon said that while she did not feel safe, she felt for people doing it even tougher than herself.

“My car is taking a bit of a beating, but it could get worse, I am just trying to live everyday, not draw attention to myself.”

“Being out here, it‘s eye opening, there are a lot of people that have less than what I have, that just have what is on their back.”

Encircle service integration care co-ordinator, Naomi Overton said the current cost of living and housing affordability were seeing more and more people come in asking for help.

“It’s the highest level of homelessness I’ve ever seen,” Ms Overton said.

“People are becoming homeless for the first time.”

Encircle has been operating for 10 years, providing services in order to help people in need.

“It’s really hard for those people at the moment, but that’s what we are there for,” Ms Overton said.

Member for Redcliffe, Yvette D’Ath, said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to building more social and affordable homes across the state.

“Across the nation, Australians are experiencing increases to their cost of living, and issues with rental property supply.

“In May myself, Minister (Leeanne) Enoch, and the Treasurer announced an 84-dwelling property on Sutton Street, Redcliffe, that will be purpose built for seniors and downsizers.

“This month a 25-dwelling property will also be completed in Woody Point.

“This is all part of our government’s $2.9 billion investment in more social and affordable housing, to support vulnerable people into safe and secure homes”, Ms D’Ath said.

Ms Dixon says that those promises were just not being seen by some in the Redcliffe community.

“I’m still struggling to understand how the funding has been working, I’m not seeing it,” Gail said.

“This is happening, we need help, we need to at least be safe and have a shower and have amenities available.”