How a Melbourne mum became homeless

THIS suburban mum from a middle-class family never imagined she could be homeless. But it only took months for her and her children to suddenly face life on the streets.

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A SUBURBAN mum who became homeless with her two daughters never imagined she could be out on the streets.

Kerren Murray, 50, and ex husband Mark were evicted from their Ringwood East home after he lost the contract for a Sydney government job in February.

Ms Murray, who grew up in a middle class family, struggled to pay the bills and rent on her $600 fortnightly disability pension.

“That sunk us, we got further and further behind,” she said.

“We were overcomitted. We were right near the end of (paying off) a few loans and it all went south.”

“Instead of going uphill we were sliding down the hill flaming quickly.”

Ms Murray, who lives with depression, then received a notice of eviction on their rental property.

The cost of living became so expensive the family had to give up their pet dog and cat, disappointing daughters Tayha, 10, and Koby, 8.

“(The pension) wasn’t enough, not with paying bills, loans, food, school things, which were the most important things,” she said.

Kerren Murray and daughter Koby, 8. Picture: Norm Oorloff.

“When moving out of the house we had to pay for storage ... and by the day of the eviction we had nowhere to go.”

The reality of being homeless hit Ms Murray just days from their eviction in June.

“Stupidly I was living in fantasy land and assumed we would get somewhere, so I got the girls to pack for two weeks,” she said.

“I couldn’t even check into a caravan park. My parents had passed, my brother was miles away.”

Ms Murray asked her friends for help, but it was an offer from the mother of her daughter’s school friend that saved the day.

“I was thinking about whose driveway I could park my car in to sleep on Monday night and deal with it on Tuesday,” she said.

Suburban mum Kerren Murray and her two girls Tayha, 10, and Koby, 8, are back on their feet after becoming homeless earlier this year. Picture: Norm Oorloff.

Ms Murray promised herself she’d find alternate housing quickly. Within two weeks she’d contacted Wesley Mission Victoria for help.

The service helped her find temporary accommodation at PWP Victoria in Croydon and supplied her with groceries and clothing for her children.

Ms Murray met another woman Megan and her teenage son while living at PWP and formed a close friendship.

Four months later the pair decided to move into their own rental, with the help of Wesley Mission.

“I swear I didn’t know where I’d be without them,” Ms Murray said.

“We were able to get bond authority assistance and the first month’s rent saved.”

“They helped pay for the removalists, so we were starting fresh (with finances) instead of behind.”

Ms Murray said she’d learned a lot from the experience.

“(Being homeless) is a good learner, everyone should have to do it once in their life,” she said.

“We’re not on easy street, but certainly as long as we watch what we do and spend wisely, we will both survive.”

Wesley Mission is currently seeking donations of non-perishable foods and household items as part of the Food for Families appeal.

Read more about the appeal here.

@Kara_Irving