Toowoomba cancer patient living in his car as city’s homeless population continues to grow

Mike Bourke had never been homeless until five months ago and he’s not alone, as support services see a change in the types of people seeking help.

Mike Bourke’s 1975 Volvo station wagon is now home to him and his canine companion Misty.

The pair woke up on Friday morning to temperatures below 5C, kept warm with blankets and clothes provided by Toowoomba’s Base Services charity.

But this wasn’t the case five months ago for the 71-year-old, who returned to the city in January to fight stage three prostate cancer.

“Treatment started way back in July, but I had to drive 150km each way to the hospital every day, to the point it was driving me crazy,” Mr Bourke said.

“I came back to this region (and) I found that rents had gone from $200 a week to $350 or $450 a week — it’s impossible (on a pension) so I’m homeless.”

Mr Bourke is part of the “changing face” of homelessness in Toowoomba, with local support services noticing a huge influx of people living rough for the first time.

Base Services co-ordinator Tiff Spary, whose organisation provides hot meals, clothes and supplies to homeless and disadvantaged people, said she was seeing greater numbers walking through the doors.

In a concerning observation, many of these people she has never met before.

Mike Bourke lives in his car with his dog Misty. He’s pictured with Tiff Spary from BASE Services. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“We’re seeing more and more people become homeless for the first time — it’s a changing face, it’s (a lot of) older people and it’s also families,” Mrs Spary said.

“So many families are struggling to find a place to sleep — it breaks our heart to hear stories like this.”

Mrs Spary said a variety of factors had created the perfect storm to push people out on the streets, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the tightening private rental market and a historical undersupply of social housing.

“Many property owners were really nervous about how they could manage with an investment property, so they’ve sold their rental properties and those have been bought by people wanting to live in them,” she said.

“We (also) saw a lot of people moving up from Victoria and into regional areas.

“We’ve just had a whole heap of things come together to have our vacancy rate at below 0.8 per cent for the past eight months.

“We need more social housing, but currently there are 2200 people on the waiting list who have nowhere safe, so we’re seeing this huge problem like never before.”

Mr Bourke’s situation has taken a toll on his mental health, but he credits the Base Services for turning his outlook around after two weeks.

“Homelessness takes your dignity — it leaves you in a severe mental state,” he said.

“The Basement have given me a beautiful new coat, these shorts, this vest — all of the goods that I want to survive out in the cold, as well as friendship and warm meals.

“These people treat you like an equal.”

The Base Services will launch its annual Homeless for a Week campaign next week, where Mrs Spary’s husband Nat sleeps rough for seven days to raise funds for the organisation.

Mr Bourke has offered to join the sleep-out and urged residents to donate.

“If they could just dig in with $10-$20 (that would help),” he said.

For more information, head to the website at homelessforaweek.com.au.

Mike Bourke lives in his car with his dog Misty. Picture: Nev Madsen.