Homelessness at Christmas: Video exposes Australia’s dark secret

Christmas may be a time of cheer for most households, but there’s a dark reason the holiday will be tough for thousands of Aussies.

A new campaign has shed light on the devastating impacts of homelessness, with children as young as eight staring down the barrel of spending Christmas without a safe roof over their heads.

Some 3000 people in Australia seek help from a homelessness service every hour, according to Mission Australia.

“That’s 3,000 Australians. 3,000 stories. Every hour,” Mission Australia CEO Sharon Callister said.

Mission Australia’s Christmas Safe Homes campaign spotlights the real stories of Aussies who have been forced into homelessness, for reasons including rising rents, domestic violence and natural disasters.

Though the videos that accompany the stories are recreations, the people that inspired them are not.

Eight-year-old Ruby became homeless after her dad couldn’t afford soaring rent increases. Picture: YouTube / Mission Australia.

They are sleeping in a garage. Picture: YouTube / Mission Australia.

The chilling clips include one of Ruby*, an eight-year-old girl who has been living in a garage because her dad, Justin*, couldn’t keep up with staggering rent increases.

The heart-wrenching footage shows the young girl packing up her belongings on the floor before making her way to school from the dark, concrete room she shares with her dad.

Single mum Laura* and her son, Ollie*, are seen making a home for themselves in a car, as it was the only safe place they could find away from a violent partner.

“I just needed to get out,” Laura says through tears, looking at Ollie in the back seat.

They slept in an outdoor carpark that night.

Like many Australians, Donna’s* home was destroyed in one of the floods that wreaked havoc across the country this past year, and she is still struggling to get back on her feet.

Donna can be seen in a clip lifting her dog and a small bag out of the swirling floodwaters that inundated her home.

Mum, Laura, and her son, Ollie, moved into a car to escape a violent partner. Picture: YouTube / Mission Australia.

Mission Australia CEO Ms Callister told news.com.au that many volunteers had called this holiday season “the worst they’ve ever seen”.

Demand for homelessness and housing services has increased by 26 per cent in the past three years, she said.

More than 122,000 people in Australia experience homelessness on any given night, 17,000 of whom are children. Most (94 per cent) are facing “hidden homelessness”, which means they are sleeping in severely overcrowded dwellings, refuges or boarding houses, or are temporarily staying with friends or family.

“Australia’s homelessness crisis is now an emergency,” Ms Callister told this publication.

“People who have never been homeless, including people in paid employment, are facing incredibly tough times. They’re struggling to make ends meet and find a safe, secure home and they’re asking Mission Australia for help.

“Far too many people are having to make hard choices — between putting food on the table, paying the power bill or paying the rent.

“For many of us, Christmas is a time to celebrate with food, festivities and family. But for many, it can be one of the toughest days and weeks of the year. Many will be wondering if they’ll be alone, if they’ll be able to find a safe place to call home, or how they’ll feed their family.”

Donna became homeless after her house was destroyed in a flood. Picture: YouTube / Mission Australia

Mission Australia called on Australians to donate what they can this festive season to help as many people as possible to find a safe, secure home.

“We know that people are doing it tough,” Ms Callister said.

“We are grateful for all contributions. Every donation goes towards ensuring our frontline staff can safely provide quality support to people in need, while also providing compassion and care for vulnerable people this Christmas and into the new year.

“We realise this year has been tough for many and we appreciate every donation we receive no matter how small.”

You can help people in Australia find a safe home this Christmas by donating to Mission Australia here, or by phoning 1800 88 88 68.

*Names changed to protect the privacy of those Mission Australia serves.

Originally published as Homelessness at Christmas: Video exposes Australia’s dark secret