Desperate mum will live apart
A desperate mum who has applied for more than 100 rental properties in the last three months says securing a house for her six children is a priority — even if it means living apart from her partner.
Tauranga-based Tangiwhetu Williams, her six children aged 4 to 15, and her 25-year-old partner Michael Sabbeth have not had a permanent address for more than two years and are living in one of Te Tuinga Whanau Social Services Trust’s emergency houses in Greerton.
They share the four-bedroom home among several families — her family has two bedrooms, another family of four has one and the fourth bedroom is kept spare. “We have to share everything. The pantry, cupboard, washing machine.”
Williams and her family spent last winter living in cars and tents before being accepted into emergency accommodation. Her last rental ended in Whakatane in 2015 when the landlord wanted the house back for himself.
She knew her large family and
poor credit ratings were against her, but said she was a good tenant.
Despite her partner having a fulltime job in Tauranga installing insulation which brought in about $900 a week, she was looking further afield and was travelling to Auckland today to view properties.
This would also mean living apart from Sabbeth until he secured a job near them. “That’s just another hurdle. . . . I feel like I’m on my hands and knees.”