Fighting back against homelessness
Donation protected
My boys and I recently became homeless when I could no longer keep up with my rent payments. I moved back home to Sydney from New Zealand due to my parents' ill health and found that property prices had basically doubled. Over the last three years I spent everything I had on keeping up with rent payments, doing all I could (including getting a Masters) to obtain permanent employment. This year has been a tough battle; I sold everything of value I had to keep us afloat and I kept positive, I kept applying, I kept trying.
Recently, I went through a period of two weeks where I ran out of savings, my eldest son (who was suffering anxiety and PTSD due to a violent attack) was hospitalised, my mother was in intensive care then moved to palliative care and my ex husband launched an international custody battle. I caved, I couldn't cope and unfortunately I don't have family to help. I fell two weeks behind on my rent and was issued an immediate eviction notice and within 7 days we were out of the property. I am a single mum, with two children and I receive no child support. I am a veteran, I have a chronic pain condition, restricted movement in my shoulder and some anxiety to boot. But, I have been holding up, we turned our eviction and homelessness into an adventure, taking the school term 4 to travel and experience Australia. I'm not going to lie, I was hugely embarrassed about what happened and wanted to hide hoping that things would turn around.
Earlier this year I researched a lot about women and homelessness. It is a major issue, particularly affecting older, vulnerable and marginalised women. Recently, the Grattan Institute published data showing that everyone will have enough money upon retirement, except single women, who face a greater risk of poverty and homelessness. I also researched alternative housing and began following the tiny home, van life and bus life movements. I saw having a bus as a way to obtain permanent, secure, long term housing for myself and my boys.
I don't want to accept my experience of homeless without a fight. I want to raise enough funds to build a longterm tiny home for myself and my boys. Through that, I will produce a series of YouTube videos showing other women, step by step, how they can do it that too. I have launched an Instagram and Facebook account - @housingfromtheheart to connect and build a community around this (please join!). Out of this experience, I want to create a positive and help other women through the development of a not for profit called Housing From The Heart. I have an old friend who, after many years as a builder and making enough money Christchurch's post earthquake environment, is ready to give back and help me build my own home, then join in to build homes for other women on a not for profit basis.
Homelessness is not fun. It's scary, uncertain and it makes it difficult for everyone involved to access the services they need. Not least of which is education and employment opportunities.
I want out, I'm sick of trying to find a safe place for our tent, I'm sick of not having a shower, or not always having access to fresh water and worrying that the mud and torrential rains will send us sideways.
I want to make it clear, that this appeal is to get us out of homelessness first, but in doing so, I want to help others. No one wants to be homeless, believe me.
Creating Housing From The Heart to help other women:
Housing From The Heart will exist to help women avoid homelessness; we recognise the particularly vulnerable position of single mothers, older women and women of all ages who need to escape from violence. We work to uphold the words of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights around the right to adequate housing and we seek to prevent homelessness, ensure security of tenure in adequate housing and to focus on the vulnerable and marginalised.
Housing From The Heart accepts that our Government will not solve this problem, and instead aims to help women avoid homelessness through:
1. Education
Teaching women how to build a long term, secure home for themselves.
2. Supplying affordable housing options
Providing low cost, self-sufficient tiny homes built for love, not profit
3. Access to help
Providing information through our website around housing and other services for women, such as domestic violence resources, legal help, medical, employment, education and emergency assistance.
4. Community
Through social media, we offer a place for women all around the world to learn and connect with our community. Through our website we provide a place where women can offer support directly to each other in their local community.
Please help! Even if it's only $10, it ultimately all adds up, I cannot do this without all of you.
Recently, I went through a period of two weeks where I ran out of savings, my eldest son (who was suffering anxiety and PTSD due to a violent attack) was hospitalised, my mother was in intensive care then moved to palliative care and my ex husband launched an international custody battle. I caved, I couldn't cope and unfortunately I don't have family to help. I fell two weeks behind on my rent and was issued an immediate eviction notice and within 7 days we were out of the property. I am a single mum, with two children and I receive no child support. I am a veteran, I have a chronic pain condition, restricted movement in my shoulder and some anxiety to boot. But, I have been holding up, we turned our eviction and homelessness into an adventure, taking the school term 4 to travel and experience Australia. I'm not going to lie, I was hugely embarrassed about what happened and wanted to hide hoping that things would turn around.
Earlier this year I researched a lot about women and homelessness. It is a major issue, particularly affecting older, vulnerable and marginalised women. Recently, the Grattan Institute published data showing that everyone will have enough money upon retirement, except single women, who face a greater risk of poverty and homelessness. I also researched alternative housing and began following the tiny home, van life and bus life movements. I saw having a bus as a way to obtain permanent, secure, long term housing for myself and my boys.
I don't want to accept my experience of homeless without a fight. I want to raise enough funds to build a longterm tiny home for myself and my boys. Through that, I will produce a series of YouTube videos showing other women, step by step, how they can do it that too. I have launched an Instagram and Facebook account - @housingfromtheheart to connect and build a community around this (please join!). Out of this experience, I want to create a positive and help other women through the development of a not for profit called Housing From The Heart. I have an old friend who, after many years as a builder and making enough money Christchurch's post earthquake environment, is ready to give back and help me build my own home, then join in to build homes for other women on a not for profit basis.
Homelessness is not fun. It's scary, uncertain and it makes it difficult for everyone involved to access the services they need. Not least of which is education and employment opportunities.
I want out, I'm sick of trying to find a safe place for our tent, I'm sick of not having a shower, or not always having access to fresh water and worrying that the mud and torrential rains will send us sideways.
I want to make it clear, that this appeal is to get us out of homelessness first, but in doing so, I want to help others. No one wants to be homeless, believe me.
Creating Housing From The Heart to help other women:
Housing From The Heart will exist to help women avoid homelessness; we recognise the particularly vulnerable position of single mothers, older women and women of all ages who need to escape from violence. We work to uphold the words of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights around the right to adequate housing and we seek to prevent homelessness, ensure security of tenure in adequate housing and to focus on the vulnerable and marginalised.
Housing From The Heart accepts that our Government will not solve this problem, and instead aims to help women avoid homelessness through:
1. Education
Teaching women how to build a long term, secure home for themselves.
2. Supplying affordable housing options
Providing low cost, self-sufficient tiny homes built for love, not profit
3. Access to help
Providing information through our website around housing and other services for women, such as domestic violence resources, legal help, medical, employment, education and emergency assistance.
4. Community
Through social media, we offer a place for women all around the world to learn and connect with our community. Through our website we provide a place where women can offer support directly to each other in their local community.
Please help! Even if it's only $10, it ultimately all adds up, I cannot do this without all of you.
Organizer
Karen Nottingham
Organizer
Suffolk Park NSW
