General News
4 July, 2024
After months under canvas, Victor and Vanessa at last find a home
Towards the end of the Covid pandemic, the housing crisis was lifting off around the country.
Victor* noticed large numbers of Victorians were moving to his home state of Queensland in the hope of finding a place to live.
He had been a carer for 10 years and was fixing computers on the side.
But after having issues with a client he decided a move was required for a fresh start.
"I thought 'well, all the Victorians are coming here, so there should be loads of free houses down there'," he said.
In September last year he completed an arduous journey - only to find out he was wrong.
He found himself moving between local caravan parks while waiting to secure a house.
"There were no houses anywhere," Victor said.
"I was thinking of heading to Western Australia, but it was the same there."
Along the way, he met his now wife Vanessa*, who was also homeless with her son.
The Wimmera soon became home to the family, albeit with only a canvas roof over their heads as they were forced to sleep rough in several different tents over a couple of months.
"The first one a tree fell on it, the second one got old and the third one we still have," Victor said.
But at least they were both closer to family members living in the Wimmera.
When Uniting Vic Tas assertive outreach worker Glenn Kimberley came across Victor and Vanessa, he offered them support, but they politely declined.
"There are people far worse off than we are," Victor said.
"If I desperately need help I will ask for it."
They used their own initiative to get themselves onto the Victorian Housing Register but needed a support worker to finish their application.
At that point they did call Mr Kimberley, who also placed them on a list for transitional housing.
The family has been thankful to him ever since.
Now they are living in a transitional housing unit in Horsham and say they are extremely happy with their life.
"I really like it here - it's lovely," Victor said.
"We're so happy now."
* Not their real names.