Three Women Share The Horrifying Reality of Living Homeless In Australia

Talie Star

Professional singer-songwriter Talie Star was running a successful music business with her husband, performing at functions throughout her home state. But she found herself homeless after having to leave due to a number of distressing issues. After experiencing “soul destroying” homelessness and a debilitating health condition, she got back on her feet and was inspired to work as a consultant in domestic violence, homelessness and disability.

I think people have this idea that if you leave [a difficult home situation] your life is suddenly great. But actually it gets worse. After I [became single] I stayed at my rental house until the landlord put up the rent by $100. And then there was no way I could afford to stay there, even with a flatmate. So then that started me on the path to homelessness.

Because my relationship ended, I also lost most of my income. It was hard to get an affordable rental. And when I did get one, the rent would go up or the property was sold, and I had to leave. So after that I was relying on people offering a bed or a couch or whatever. I ended up living with different people I didn’t know – friends of friends. I went from
one place to another.

Being homeless… you don’t have that place to go to that’s safe. I had pets die and nowhere to bury them. All while trying to deal with the trauma I had suffered.

The government organisations you deal with for help work on a system of power and control. So you’ve escaped a situation of power and control and then you get thrown into these systems that are just as bad. They treat you like a criminal. If you’re articulate and educated, they ask, “Why do you need help?” Well, anybody can need help. It’s horrendous.

When I finally got a public housing property, I could start building my life back up again. I was on a priority list because I have a degenerative spinal disease.

I now work as a consultant in domestic violence, homelessness and disability. I’m trying to change the system from the inside out. I wish governments would understand the reality of people’s lives. No-one chooses to be homeless, I can tell you that.

Lauren De Groot

The 27-year-old single mother from Lismore, New South Wales, first became homeless after leaving an unhappy domestic situation. Lauren, who has a bachelor of social work, and her daughter, Freya, three, were previously left homeless after her house burnt down in an accidental fire last year. The pair slept on friends’ couches until Lauren found an apartment in the Lismore CBD, just before the floods hit.

As a single mum it’s hard to get a rental. A single income is not taken well and it’s also hard to save money for a bond. At that time, I was reliant on Centrelink, and landlords often make negative assumptions about single mums on benefits.

I eventually found an apartment above a shop in the Lismore CBD. Then I found work as a disability support worker. It was nice to have a home and I had plans to send my daughter to the local school. When the flood hit, I spent hours calling the SES, calling the police. Eventually the SES said, “Sorry, we can’t come.” Then they said, “Good luck.” Which felt awful.

It was agonising waiting as the water rose in our flat. We were panicking. Freya was terrified. I kept putting her higher and higher on things. I rang my mum, saying, “We’re going to die, I love you.” I thought we were going to get swept away. I remember asking my mum, “Do you think I should drown her first so she doesn’t suffer?”

Eventually, my dad was able to borrow a boat and he rescued us. We stayed at my mum’s house for two days. It’s just too difficult for us to live there, or at my dad’s place.

Recent floods in northern NSW have put further pressure on housing options. Our apartment is gutted, all of our stuff is gone. So we had to couch surf with friends and do some house sitting.

I called the housing department and somehow [comedian and author] Mandy Nolan, who is the Greens candidate in our electorate, heard about my story. She messaged me saying, “I’ve got a friend who wants to give you this caravan for six months.” I couldn’t believe it.

We’ve been in the caravan for two weeks now. It’s been good that my daughter has a roof over her head, but it’s hard, too. There’s people everywhere, cars everywhere, and a noisy pub is right next door. I can’t leave her alone in the caravan to go to the park’s bathroom at night.

The government has dropped the ball in every way. They’re either completely absent or they bungle attempts to provide what looks like support. I have a caravan, but I still have to pay $700 a week rent for the campsite. The support I get is nowhere near enough.

I never imagined my life would be this way. My goal is to find somewhere for us to live that’s affordable, that’s not chewing away all of my money on rent, that’s not paying somebody else’s mortgage. I would love my daughter to have everything she needs.