Two of Mackay’s former homeless share their story, “it could happen to you”

While for some the cost-of-living crisis might mean tightening our belts, for Mackay’s most vulnerable it is the difference between a warm bed and sleeping on the street. PHOTOS, DETAILS

While for some of us the cost-of-living crisis might mean tightening our belts, for Mackay’s vulnerable it is the difference between a warm bed and sleeping on the street.

Mackay’s rough sleepers have seemingly disappeared in recent weeks, with the usual encampments in North Mackay abandoned, save for the remnants of a lean-to and a fire pit.

Visible or not, their problems remain the same.

Mackay based advocacy group the Australian Street Aid Project estimated that Mackay had approximately 70 visibly homeless individuals sleeping rough every night.

Shane McCartney, who has been homeless since he was 11, is now starting a new job out at the mines. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Shane McCartney was among this number up until recently, thanks to the generosity of an 80 year old man he met through Orange Sky Laundry.

Mr McCartney became homeless at the age of 11 when he was kicked out of home by his mother and her new partner.

He spent over 20 years homeless until a man named Peter Norris invited Shane to live with him.

“A lot of my friends who I was homeless with have all passed on,” Mr McCartney said.

“If it wasn’t for someone giving me a chance, I’d still be where I was.”

Kayleigh Brewster Australian Street Aid Project CEO at launch of Mayors Ball Friday 12 April 2024 Picture:Michaela Harlow

Kayleigh Brewster of the Australian Street Aid Project believes that if the cost-of-living and housing crisis persist the number of homeless will rise with “the most vulnerable in our society” being affected the worst unless “action is taken”.

Her homeless drop-in house Chances House helps address the needs of up to 50 homeless clients a day, but is only able to help those experiencing homeless, not those who are experiencing food insecurity or becoming more vulnerable.

“You never think it will happen to you,” said Bear, another Mackay man who has experienced homelessness.

Bear is a giant of a man living in West Mackay who spends most of his time seated as a result of an accident.

While working as a construction worker, Bear’s boot was caught on the wheel of a concrete truck which ended up running over his leg.

“I made the mistake of suing my employer and winning,” he said matter of factly.

This legal action resulted in Bear being blacklisted from construction work and the trauma from the incident combined with the painkillers he was taking, left him in a state of great mental anguish.

“I pushed away my wife and all my friends…we ended up seperated.”

Bear camped out on his sister’s property near Bundaberg for some time, before getting into a dispute with his brother-in-law.

He spent the next couple of years sleeping rough on the street and in hostels and transition houses in Bundaberg and Mackay.

Orange Sky Laundry operates a pod near the St Vincent De Paul on Hamlet St. Picture: Nuno Avendano

Today Bear is in his own accommodation in West Mackay, but he still attends Orange Sky Laundry every week to do his laundry and eat a hot breakfast among friends.

“(Orange Sky Laundry) has given me a place I can come, get a feed and socialise,” he said.

Both Shane and Bear have struggled with finding housing in Mackay.

Although employed full time Shane is still living with Peter Norris due to lack of housing.

Once he starts his new job in the mines however, he hopes he’ll be able to afford and find his own place.

Mackay renters are currently grappling with a median rent over $425 p/w and a 0.5% rental vacancy rate, leading to a greater housing shortage than Brisbane’s.

Both caution the public against judging those sleeping rough each night.

Bear was many things before he became homeless. A sailor, construction worker and husband being just a few. Photo: Fergus Gregg

“One day they might find themselves homeless,” Mr McCartney cautioned.

“That one accident changed my life,” Bear reflected.

“I had a wife and a stepson, who I thought I was going to be with forever.

Lisa Jamison, an operator of Orange Sky Laundry in Mackay, who put on three hot breakfasts a week and provide a free laundry service for all, indicated that the increase in food and rental prices were the biggest barriers affecting the homeless in Mackay right now.

“You go to the grocery store and the price difference from six months ago is astronomical,” Mrs Jamison said.

“We’ve seen a rental increase from $260 per week to $350.

“That is so cruel, unfair and unreasonable.”

Originally published as Two of Mackay’s former homeless share their story, “it could happen to you”