Hundreds attend Homeless Connect event at Rockhampton Showgrounds

A young mum homeless with an 18mo baby says ‘it’s a tough life’ but others have it worse than her. Read the stories behind CQ’s most vulnerable at the Homeless Connect annual event on Thursday.

Tanisha Boswell with her daughter Amarlee.

A 22-year-old Rockhampton region mum said she never expected to find herself homeless with a babe on her arms.

Tanisha Boswell, together with her 17-month-old daughter, were part of a 300 plus attendance at the Homeless Connect event at Rockhampton Showgrounds on Thursday.

Ms Boswell said they had been living out of their car before securing emergency housing.

“It’s been really bad, horrible,” she said.

“(My daughter) can’t have all her things, we don’t have any cooking appliances, (it) feel(s) like we are living off takeaway.

“Honestly I never thought I would be in this situation especially with a little one … but it’s a tough life and you’ve got to get through it sometimes.”

Homeless Connect – which brings together service providers and organisations to give free access to haircuts, dental checks, clothing, food, information and even nail painting – has helped 6000 people since launching in 2010.

Birdee Hair Boutique offering free haircuts at the Homeless Connect event at Rockhampton Showgrounds on May 19.

Ms Boswell said it was good to see Rockhampton providing needed services to those experiencing homelessness.

“I know there are people in worse situations than what I am in and it’s good they can have something like this,” she said.

Darren Baker has been on the streets for two years.

Fellow attendee Darren Baker has lived on the streets for two years, mostly squatting in empty houses before police move him on.

“I’m on Centrelink, by the end of the fortnight I am broke for the last couple of days … starved usually,” he said.

Mr Baker said it was hard to find accommodation as he was put on waiting lists and people constantly stole his phone.

“I don’t think I’ve had one (a phone) for more than a month,” he said.

“By the time I go back in (to get help) … I have to get back on the list.”

June Scott has found herself living in her ute and emergency housing.

June Scott said she became homeless after her family cleared out her unit while police had her in lockup.

She has floated between places and lived in her ute for the last year and is just starting to turn her life around.

“I’ve only just got a job again so hopefully I do the right thing this time and get a place and it all pans out,” she said.

“I lock myself away, it’s hard when you are depressed to get yourself in the headspace.

“There’s support there but when you are feeling the way you are … I never thought I would be in this situation, someone who had things down to someone who has nothing.”

Originally published as Hundreds attend Homeless Connect event at Rockhampton Showgrounds