Ringwood dad and his daughter open up about couch surfing and unaffordable housing in Maroondah

A man living in crisis accommodation with his daughter says rental prices in Maroondah are so high renters on Centrelink would be unable to eat.

Ringwood’s Shane* had to couch surf with his eight-year-old daughter after his rental property got condemned. Picture: Norm Oorloff

A man forced to couch surf with his young daughter has opened up about his struggle to find affordable housing in Maroondah.

Despite an arduous journey, Shane* feels he is one of the lucky ones after he went to Uniting Wesley’s Ringwood office for help in February.

The carpet-layer, 39, and eight-year-old daughter Ciara*, had to leave the house they were renting in Nunawading after it was condemned because of flood damage.

He’s no stranger to sleeping rough — he spent part of his teenage years living on the streets in the Dandenong Ranges.

“It’s freezing in the hills if you’re homeless,” Shane said.

“There’s no public transport, you have to hitchhike everywhere after 8pm, and it rains nine months of the year.”

Shane* is back on his feet after reaching out to Uniting Wesley for help. Picture Norm Oorloff

The duo couch-surfed at a friend’s place in Mitcham but left after Shane felt it was an unsafe environment for his daughter.

He approached Uniting Wesley who put them in emergency accommodation at Ringwood’s Manhattan Hotel for three months.

Shane said the hotel room felt “isolating” but was better than couch-surfing or living on the streets.
“It’s not good to be living out of a backpack, it’s really sad, and of course it’s uncomfortable sleeping on someone else’s couch,” he said.

“It’s embarrassing and quite horrible, but I’m lucky enough to have friends who will open the door, and that’s comforting in a way.”

Shane” found it hard to find any rental properties under $300 a week in Ringwood. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Shane and Ciara have been in one of Uniting’s four crisis housing properties in Ringwood and are about to move to an apartment supported by the Salvation Army in Hawthorn.

His case worker, Michelle Roth, said Shane’s story reflected the dire need for more affordable housing in Ringwood.

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“It’s getting worse, we’re seeing a lot more families presenting to us, and it can happen to anybody,” she said.

“Rentals in this area are just not affordable, a lot of our clients are on Centrelink and they just don’t get a look-in.”

Shane said it was hard to find anything under $300 a week and he only got considered if he teamed up with friends.

“If your money doesn’t match, you won’t get a phone call back,” he said.

“You got to be very lucky to get maybe a one-bedroom unit under $300, and anything over that, if you’re not employed you’re not going to able afford it … you’re not going to be able to eat anyway.”

*Shane and Ciara are not their real names.

Details on how to contribute to Uniting Wesley’s winter fundraising efforts can be found at vt.uniting.org

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