Family forced to live in motel finally finds new home to live in

A family forced to live in a motel room because they were unable to get a rental have found a house to call home after their story featured in the Bulletin. Here's what happened next.

A family forced to live in a single Labrador motel room because they were unable to get a rental have finally found a house to call home after their story was featured in the Bulletin.

Alexi Bennett said she and partner Tinei Tiumalu were thrilled to have found a spacious four-bed home where they could raise children Leilani, 7, Alaysai, 1, and baby Kross.

In a reflection of the degree to which young families are being forced further afield to find housing, their new home is in Flagstone, meaning Mr Tiumalu must spend more than an hour each way commuting to his job on the Gold Coast.

However Ms Bennett said the family were delighted with their new home.

“We’re so, so grateful. Honestly, it’s stunning out here. It’s so pretty and it’s such a nice change,” Ms Bennett said.

“It’s a positive change. (The house) is stunning, it’s so beautiful, and it’s home now.

“It was hard, it was so hard. But to have this outcome makes it worth it. After four months of struggling, finally, it’s come to an end.”

Alexi Bennett with her children Leilani, Alaysia and baby Kross. Picture: Richard Gosling.

Ms Bennett said her daughter Leilani had to switch from Surfers Paradise State School to Flagstone State School, but her children were much happier at their new home.

“Just seeing them so happy, that’s the main thing,” she said. “You can see a difference in the kids, they’re brighter.”

One member of the family, however, is taking a little longer to adjust – three-month-old Kross.

Until now, the baby had never known any home other than the cramped motel room in Labrador.

“I’m trying to get him used to being in a cot in his own room,” Ms Bennett said.

“He’s so used to the noise and all of us being so close together.

“If he can’t see me, he cries out.”

Ms Bennett found the house with help from Arzu Altanhan and Cassandra Hanna from Option Property.

Ms Altanhan said the agency was delighted to have been able to help out.

“When she first saw the property she was over the moon. To see her face, and the kids, it was really, really lovely to be a part of that,” Ms Altanhan said.

“To be able to get her accepted into that property was incredible.

“Making those little milestones for some people, and being able to create a family home for them, is really rewarding for us.”

'REJECTION AFTER REJECTION': HOW WE FIRST REPORTED THE FAMILY'S PLIGHT

These are the innocent faces of the Gold Coast’s housing crisis.

Alexi Bennett can afford to pay more than $600 a week to put a roof over the heads of children Leilani, 7, Alaysai, 1, and six-week-old Kross, but can’t find a rental home.

With partner Tinei Tiumalu, who in a cruel irony works long hours as a removalist, Ms Bennett and her children are forced to live in a single room at a Labrador Motel. It costs them $850 a week.

The family, along with other tenants, was forced to leave their previous rental in a Surfers Paradise unit block three months ago when the landlord opted not to renew their leases. Ms Bennett has been searching for somewhere else to live ever since.

But despite good references and the funds to pay their way, the family has been left with nowhere to go.

“It’s just been rejection after rejection after rejection. It’s every day. It’s taking a toll on my mental health,” Ms Bennett said.

“He (baby son Kross) has only known the tiny little room we live in for $850 a week. When it could be so different, when you are seeing houses that are like mansions rented for that exact price. It’s super super depressing.”

Alexi Bennett with her children Leilani, Alaysia and baby Kross. Picture: Richard Gosling.

Ms Bennett said the family had even considered splitting up to help them find accommodation. But still they could find nothing suitable.

“My partner works full time. We both have a stable income. And we still can’t manage to get anywhere,” she said.

“I’m just freaking out now. I’m so desperate.

“I have been to every single agency, I have put my name down at (state government service) RentConnect, on the homelessness housing list. Everywhere you can possibly think of. I went through all these agencies and I put my name down literally everywhere and this (the motel room) is all I could find.”

Ms Bennett said she was grateful to the manager of the motel where the family is living for allowing them to stay there, but it was hard on her children and the $850-a-week was stretching their budget.

“My one-year-old has no space. My seven-year-old can’t grasp why we’re all in one room and she can’t have her own space,” she said.

“And it (the motel room) is expensive. We’re going without food. Because everything has to go to it.

“But I’d rather keep them (the children) warm. You’ve got to weigh it up. Would you rather a roof over your heads for the week, or eat for the week.”

Ms Bennett’s story comes after the Bulletin on Saturday revealed in a special report that census and Department of Education figures indicated young families were being driven from the Gold Coast by soaring housing costs.

Data released by SQM Research showed that, as of the end of July, the average cost of renting a 3-bed house on the Gold Coast had risen to $823.56 per week, while the cost of a two-bedroom unit averaged $643.75 per week. According to the agency, those figures exceed the average rates paid in Sydney.

Vacancy rates on the Gold Coast have collapsed to just 0.6 per cent, having been at 5 per cent as recently as May 2020.

Campaign group Everybody’s Home said the SQM data showed rents had surged by an average of 15 per cent each year for the past three years in most parts of the Gold Coast, far outstripping wage increases.

“Rental stress is the gateway to homelessness,” spokesperson Kate Colvin said.

“When you combine surging rents with flat wages you put people in a financial vice. For the past three years that vice has been tightening

“Homelessness providers are reporting stories of families with full time breadwinners being forced to live in tents.”

Everybody Home spokesperson Kate Colvin.

Ms Bennett said that in addition to her own family’s experience, her partner Tinei had seen the affects if the crisis through his work as a removalist.

“Last week he moved three people out and they all had to go from houses to (putting their things into) storage,” she said. “It’s terrible.

“And now it’s really taking a toll on my mental health.

“I just want to be able to enjoy the first weeks of my baby’s life and it’s so hard.

“Honestly, I would take anything. I would just like even one bedroom. We could make that work in a one bedroom, as long as we had a home. Just somewhere we could make a home.”

Follow @keithjwoods