Short intro: D has been homeless for a couple weeks due to leaving domestic violence and urgently needs help with funds to pay for current accommodation, which is currently being payed for privately, due to government Housing office declining to continue helping support D in accessing emergency accommodation for D and their cat.

Long story: D is a queer, non-binary, disabled and neurodivergent person and lives with chronic pain after severe ill health. D has been on Jobseeker for years and has a current exemption from mutual obligations till December 3rd, but will be hopefully provided another next week, so D has been living with very low funds for a long time.

D had been accessing TA (temporary accommodation) for a couple weeks now via link2home, with support for extensions at the TA from the local DCJ office.

It was the plan to stay there with their pet cat for as long as was allowed, provided D goes in every 5-7 days to present their required updated evidence documents per week, but D was declined on Tuesday 19th Nov, for further support in accessing emergency refuge through Government assistance, which TA is linked to, by their local Housing office.

D has been experiencing a lot of distress and uncertainty and this situation has now increased these feelings. D has also expressed that their cat, who has been with D during this time of homelessness, has been keeping them afloat.

D is hoping to raise funds to help with the costs of this unexpected private accommodation, as this issue with the local Housing Office will not be dealt with until at least next Monday 25th November, or beyond.

D's caseworker will be there on Monday to advocate for D and to appeal their wrongful decision against D not having access to TA - as TA is the only option available for D and their cat, except for private accommodation (e.g. hotels/motels).

Funds will also be used to help with expenses for some food cat supplies and their phone bills- in between their next Centrelink fortnightly payment due on the 30th November.

Longer Context about D's current situation:

D had been told the requirements by a staff member last week and was to present for their TA extension this recent Wednesday morning (19th Nov) and has text evidence, but was unexpectedly made to go in by the TA staff a day earlier on Tuesday 19th instead.

D was told 'Housing office made a mistake' and that D needed to go right then and took their room key until they came back with the approved extension.

D ended up going to the local Housing Office alone, without their usual support person in attendance and was seen by a staff member they were not familiar with and it went quite badly.

Not only were there serious issues with the conduct and communication with this staff member - that D's caseworker is filing a complaint against - but this staff member had expressed their opinion that D had not experienced DV and was also lying about their evidence, as they did not believe that D was given completely opposite information on requirements from another staff member just the week prior, which D has evidence of by a support person in attendance that day.

Unfortunately, therefore D's TA extension was declined and D was subsequently barred from accessing further temporary accommodation through Link2home, a homelessness crisis service, which has been their only option for safe, short-term housing, during this difficult time.

D had to quickly pack up belongings and secure their cat and stayed in a support persons car for several hours making phone calls and attempted plans moving forward.

D called link2home at just after 5pm, as were the instructions given upon leaving the Housing Office. Link2home advised that since D was now barred from accessing TA in the government system until this 'issue is resolved with the Housing Office' -due to 'non compliance'- and there were no emergency refuge's available for D and their cat, D was told they had to 'source their own accommodation' for the night.

D ended up spending half of their money on the evening of Tuesday 19th Nov, for two nights at a private pet friendly accommodation, spending $390, which helped D have safe shelter until D was able to call a family member yesterday, who was able to provide $390 to extend D's room till Saturday morning (23rd Nov).

Unfortunately D's family member is unwell and they also do not have an easy relationship, making D quite scared to even contact them in the first place. Therefore this is unfortunately not sustainable nor reliable as a means of continuous support during this crisis, as this is looking to be a long road ahead for D while they wait for their Government Housing Application to be processed and placed on the registry as Priority.