Geelong mum living in car as homeless crisis laid bare
A woman who has been forced to sleep in her car has described her frustration with the government, as a key charity figure reveals the “overwhelming” demand for help in Geelong.
Geelong
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A Geelong mother says she is stuck in limbo as she lives in her car while searching for a job and safe place to live.
For months, 44-year-old Dani Turner has been struggling to find somewhere to sleep at night, after a health episode started a domino effect which led to her being homeless.
“In October last year, I had two strokes,” she said.
“I was employed full time (but then) I lost my job.
“I didn’t get benefits until December.
“I also couldn’t afford (my rental) on the benefits, so I got evicted.
“Now, I can’t afford one still.
“I get $279 a week.”
Ms Turner said she has received assistance through The Orange Door, which was able to set her and her 18-year-old daughter up in a hotel room for two weeks.
However, due to having family pets to look after and their being prohibited from the hotel, Ms Turner is sleeping in her car.
And after the fortnight is up, she said her daughter would most likely be joining her.
Ms Turner, who said she always prided herself on being independent, said she felt like she was in limbo.
She said she was in a catch-22 situation.
“I want to go back to work,” she said.
“But I need a house.
“And I need a (fixed address) to get employed.
“But I need a job to be able to afford a house.”
Ms Turner said being caught in this situation was frustrating.
“It feels like sh**,” she said.
“It feels like I’ve just been let down.
“It feels like the government … don’t care.
“I’ve paid my dues, I work really hard for what I have.
“It just feels like (the government) have just said ‘stuff you’.”
A social services department spokesman said the assistance payments were not a salary or wage replacement.
“The Australian government is committed to leaving no one behind and holding no one back,” he said.
“Our social security system is designed to support Australians who need it for a range of reasons, whether it is because of their age, their health or disability status or being unemployed.
“These payments are a safety net for people, but also encourage those who can support themselves to do so.”
Ms Turner said there are more people than society realises in similar positions to her own.
She is actively job hunting, with lived experience being a truck driver.
It is understood Services Australia have reached out to Ms Turner to offer further aid.
Homelessness continues to overwhelm Geelong
Homeless support services in Geelong are “overwhelmed” with the thousands of people in the region in need of assistance.
In 2021 alone, 4982 people in the Geelong region looked for help from homelessness services.
This was an increase from the 4160 people who sought help five years ago.
Give Where You Live Foundation chief executive Bill Mithen said not having secure housing would have a domino effect on people’s ability to find work.
This would then impair their ability to support themselves.
“One of the absolute pillars of a healthy life is stable accommodation,” he said.
“It’s very difficult to think of anything else, like looking for a job, interviewing for a job … when you have this black cloud over your head.
“It’s really hard for people to get out of the cycle or change their life trajectory when they don’t have stable accommodation.”
Council to Homeless Persons acting chief executive Kate Colvin said the housing affordability crisis was also driving “rapid growth” in homelessness across Geelong.
“For people on low incomes, housing is prohibitively expensive,” Ms Colvin said.
“Rents are skyrocketing, putting enormous pressure on people’s ability to find housing.
“Rental properties now average $440 a week in the Barwon-South West region.
“That’s up 11.4 per cent in the past year and 7.3 per cent in the past quarter.”
Mr Mithen said while homeless support services do a good job, there is simply too much need in the community.
He said it remains a growing issue, and has been for a long time.
“The support services are overwhelmed with the amount of work,” Mr Mithen said.
“They are doing a terrific job … (but) they need more support, and more help … to be able to deliver the services.”
Mr Mithen said he was supportive of projects like three properties in Geelong that have been identified for potential social housing developments.
He said it was one of the range of things that should be done to address the issue.
“We definitely need greater stock of social and public housing,” he said.
“I know the state government and City of Greater Geelong are looking at that … I’m certainly very supportive of (any projects).
“One of the other things that need to be done is (further information gathering).
“What we don’t know in detail is the amount of people who sleep rough.”
The Give Where You Live Foundation has joined a campaign, Towards Zero, which Mr Mithen said would hold its own census in October this year.
“We want to try and gain some information … so that we can support those people all the way through their journey,” he said.
The foundation will be giving details about getting involved in the campaign in coming weeks.
Originally published as Geelong mum living in car as homeless crisis laid bare
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