South West woman Helen and dog Banjo no longer homeless and sleeping rough
After sharing her fear of dying alone while sleeping rough, Helen Findlay has found a place to call home.
Her new abode comes after speaking to the Busselton Dunsborough Times for a shocking report into the increasing impact of homelessness in regional WA.
Ms Findlay found herself homeless and sleeping in her car after not being able to bear abandoning her dog Banjo.
She has since been inundated with kind messages and generous offers of support and assistance from the Busselton community.
One of the many offers of support has turned out to be the perfect solution for Ms Findlay, who is now in the process of moving into her new home.
She described the moment she was offered somewhere to live as absolutely amazing.
“This community has the biggest heart, so many people wanted to help and do what they could,” she said.
Feeling incredibly grateful for all the support, Ms Findlay wanted to publicly express her thanks to everyone who reached out.
“I am just so relieved to have found somewhere, and I am so grateful to this incredible community for its support,” she said.
Lou Hartley, who also featured in The Times last week, is still searching for a permanent site for her motor home, but also had some positive news to share.
“I’m happier this week because I have been able to rent out my caravan, which will provide some stability to my income,” she told The Times.
“I’m comfortable and happy living in the motor home, but I really do need a permanent location, somewhere safe to park it.”
Shelter WA CEO Kath Snell said homelessness services from across the State were struggling to cope with surging demand.
“Right now we have a perfect storm of soaring rents, rock bottom vacancy rates and a cost of living crisis which is plunging more and more people into distress,” she said.
“People who have never asked for help in their lives are experiencing homelessness for the first time.
“Without a significant funding boost that actually meets demand, services will have to continue turning desperate people away, including women and children fleeing domestic violence.”
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