’I just want my kids to have a home’: Young Hobart mum and children hit hard by housing crisis

A young Hobart mother says she is running out of options in a years-long quest to secure a long-term home, as one of about 4000 Tasmanians languishing on the public housing waiting list. HER STORY >>

• Council approves meeting on controversial prison development
• Minister apologies for patient’s maggo infested wounds

YOUNG mum Laura Cooper just wants a place she and her two kids can call home.

But after three years on the priority waiting list for public housing, the 21-year-old is in crisis, often spending the day not knowing where she will be sleeping that night.

Ms Cooper says she has tried just about everything to find a home for her and her children Shanaya, 2, and Zayden, 11 months old.

Ms Cooper has been in constant contact with Housing Tasmania and with two social service support agencies, but feels she is not being heard.

She is one of more than 4000 Tasmanian families and individuals on the waiting list for public housing, with an average wait time for priority applicants of more than a year.

At one stage, Ms Cooper was told to ring around Hobart shelters and she did, but they were all full.

Most recently, she has been staying at a hotel in Hobart’s northern suburbs, but will not be able to afford it for much longer.

“I’m really running out of options,’’ Ms Cooper told the Mercury.

“Mum’s place is a bit overcrowded and she is unwell, so it’s a little bit hard me being there with the kids, for her mental health and also my own.

Laura Cooper with children Shanaya 2 and Zayden 11 months. Laura and her family are facing the prospect of sleeping on the streets when they have to move from their current temporary accommodation. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“I just want my kids to have a home, instead of having to rely on people all the time and staying in different places.

“It would actually be perfect, and it would mean a lot to me to have a stable and safe space to be in.”

Ms Cooper, who is living off a single parenting payment, said she could afford a maximum of $350 per week for a private rental but it was difficult in a competitive rental market.

Federal member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, whose office was contacted by Ms Cooper about her situation, said the situation was scandalous.

“That a young single mum is effectively homeless is nothing short of scandalous in a country and state as rich as ours,’’ he said.

“There is obviously no end in sight to the housing crisis even though the state and federal governments have numerous levers at their fingertips, and in particular ready access to all the funding required to quickly build much more crisis accommodation and social housing.

“This is all about priorities and it is deeply shameful that the state government thinks the homeless are second rate.”

A state government spokeswoman said said the governmnet could not to into detail about Ms Cooper’s case.

“In relation to Ms Cooper, options have been provided by the Housing Connect team,’’ she said.

“However, without client consent it is difficult to outline the full case and support offered.

“To get the best outcomes clients are strongly encouraged to follow advice and take steps to achieve their own rights and responsibilities.”

The spokeswoman said the government was building 3500 new homes by 2027 in an attempt to reduce housing stress and homelessness.

She said anyone at risk of homelessness should contact Housing Connect, 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 800 588.

Older Tasmanians facing pressure to downsize and sell family home

WITH house prices continuing to rise, older Tasmanians are facing “inheritance impatience” from their children who want them to downsize, the Council on the Ageing says.

COTA Tasmania chief executive Sue Leitch said financial abuse was the most prevalent of abuse involving older Tasmanians and sometimes it involved children pressuring their parents to sell the family home.

“It is thought that about half of (elder abuse) cases involve financial abuse, often with other forms of abuse happening as well, such as bullying or psychological abuse, or physical abuse,” Ms Leitch said.

“Certainly, the term often coined is ‘inheritance impatience’.

“With prices so high it is compounding the issue if the adult children are facing housing stress, ie if they are in rental accommodation with more than 30 per cent of their income being spent on rent, or if they are facing unmanageable mortgage payments.

“Other factors also may be underlying substance abuse or gambling problems that are placing households under financial stress.”

Council on the Ageing chief executive Sue Leitch. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Ms Leitch said it was often challenging for older people to sell and move to a new suburb.

“One clear challenge for older people if they sell in their suburb – will they be able to find a suitable home in the same area that could meet their needs,” she said.

“There is risk of social isolation and disconnection from community if they need to move to a different area.”

Ms Leitch said there was a need for more social housing in Tasmania to relieve housing stress.

“More social housing across the community could go one way to alleviating part of this housing pressure,” she said. “There is a lot of interest in different models of shared equity to allow more ownership as well.”

For those wanting to stay in their own homes, Ms Leitch said there were supports available to help them manage.

“There are aged care and community supports available either on a regular basis – or as a one-off to make a home more suitable and accessible,” she said.

“We often talk about right sizing as well. Older people may still want to hang on to the extra bedrooms for visits from family and friends but they may not need as large a garden.”

REIT president Mandy Welling. Picture: Chris Kidd

Real Estate Institute of Tasmania president Mandy Welling said selling the family home was often difficult for older Tasmanians.

“Retirees often find it harder, they have a fear of moving and ask ‘but where will I go?’” Ms Welling said.

Ms Welling said it was particularly hard to move for people who had lost their partner.

“It is very hard if they are moving after losing a partner because everything is changing and all their memories of that person are tied up in the home where they lived together,” she said.

Tasmanians aged 65 or older may be eligible to make a downsizer contribution into their superannuation from the proceeds of selling their home and receive stamp duty concessions.

Allan and Beverley Jones moved from Wynyard to Seven Mile Beach. Picture: Chris Kidd

Reaping the benefits of tough choice

FOR Bev and Allan Jones, it was a difficult decision to sell the Wynyard home where they had lived for 42 years and move to Hobart.

They put the for sale sign on their treasured federation-era home only to change their minds.

“We put it on the market but then we thought ‘No, we’re not going’,” Mrs Jones laughs.

“The decision was made for us because it’s all about family.

“It was very hard to leave our friends and people we played golf with. All the memories and everything you’ve done you just leave behind.

“But we love it now.”

Bev, 75, and Allan, 79, have been married for 57 years, have three children and are enjoying being close to their daughter on Hobart’s Eastern Shore and looking after their four-year-old great-granddaughter.

“Our big old house at Wynyard was getting too much for us, there was a lot to maintain,” Mrs Jones said.

The Wynyard home was sold to a Sydney woman who bought it sight unseen, having just viewed photos. She bought much of their antique furniture.

Mrs Jones packed up the Wynyard home four years ago while her husband, daughter and two grandsons walked the Kokoda Trail to mark the 75th anniversary.

Their new home in a retirement village at Seven Mile Beach is half the size of their former family home andt is far less work and maintenance.

“It’s a lovely community here, the people are very social and we have a great community centre,” Mrs Jones said.