HASTINGS housing advocate and rental agency manager Karen Taylor says it was a tearful moment when she handed over the keys for a rental property to a family of four who had been homeless for nearly a year.
“I always look forward to handing over house keys. It’s such an exciting time for all involved, especially for the people moving in. But that day was extra special,” she said.
The family she was giving the keys to was trying to find a home in the midst of a rental crisis but, to make matters harder, 27-year-old mother Caitlin Scown had suffered a stroke just over one year ago and was living with a disability that affected her mobility.
In the middle of last year, Scown and her partner – who have two children aged six and four – were issued with a notice to vacate after the owner decided to renovate the property.
The family promptly vacated without protest because they didn’t know what else to do in the middle of dealing with a lot of other stress and grief and have been without a permanent residence since then.
Victims of the housing shortage, the family has spent much of that time couch surfing and finding a roof where it could.
Taylor, who is on the Triple A Housing Committee with Mornington Peninsula Shire, said the family’s plight was a side to the homelessness crisis people might not be familiar with, but she and others in the housing sector were seeing more and more.
“I worked with local community services who managed to get them on the social housing register, but we all know how long and depressing that list is,” Taylor said.
“But not long after, the same family became victim to a cyber crime, losing the equivalent of a first month’s rent and bond, saved because Owen works multiple jobs to support his family, to what they thought was a genuine ad for a private rental.
“They were so excited to let me know that they had finally secured a home, and forgot to seek advice before signing documents and transferring money.
“When I saw the documents they signed, I sent them to the police immediately, but it was too late.”
A happy ending finally came for the family when Taylor found a property owner who wanted to lease his property at an affordable level to help a local family stay within their community.
“I have a great network of local community support professionals and relationships with the local community centres and in this case, our local housing support officer in Hastings,” she said.
“We all worked together to support this family and get them access to the services they needed to help them secure this property. It took a tiny bit longer. It was a bit more work.”
Taylor said it was worth “every frantic late night message and multiple back and forth emails and phone calls keeping everybody informed”.
“A great example of what can be achieved with collaboration,” she said.
Caitlin, who drives a mobility scooter, said it was shattering to lose her home after five and a half years and suddenly have no stability and nowhere to go.
“We applied for so many properties, but ended up in the lounge of my in-laws, which was pretty stressful for everyone as you can imagine,” she said.
“If it wasn’t for the help of the community and Karen, I don’t know where we would be”.
Caitlin said the experience had been overwhelming for the family, but that the children were much happier now and settling in.
“To see their faces light up when they first saw the house, it was incredible,” she said.
Taylor is encouraging property owners who have an Airbnb, holiday home or short stay property on the peninsula to think about their options with the long term housing market.
According to the 2021 Census there are 93,600 dwellings recorded across the peninsula with 68,977 noted as occupied. That means that there were 24,623 unoccupied homes, representing 26 per cent of all housing stock. The shire has about 3200 active short stay properties registered.
The 2021 Census shows 421 people who were homeless on the peninsula, which had increased from 298 from the previous census.
Taylor said local agencies and services estimate that the actual number of people who are homeless across the peninsula is closer to 1000.
“This figure does not take into consideration those who are couch surfing, sleeping in caravans and backyards. So, we know the figure is higher still.”
First published in the Mornington News – 1st August 2023
