Son dies in quake; mum homeless
Six years after an earthquake killed her baby, Tracey Harris is homeless.
Since February, the Christchurch woman has lived in a car, with relatives and, this week, in a motel unit.
Harris, whose 8-month-old son, Jayden, died after a TV fell on him in the February 2011 earthquake, admits she has not always been the best tenant, but says she needs a home to turn her life around.
‘‘Our life was almost perfect. Then, in a matter of seconds, everything changed for the worse, and nothing’s been consistently good since,’’ she said. ‘‘I need a house to fight to get my kids back, get my life on track and be stable.’’
The Tenancy Tribunal ended Harris’ tenancy in a Housing New Zealand (HNZ) home in February because of arrears of $1836. She had been living there since July 2012. Property damage of $3160 was found.
‘‘I was applying every single day on Trade Me for houses, but I learned the hard way that landlords expect you to have a perfect credit history, perfect references and to be working.’’
She said losing her son in the earthquake sent her into a spiral of post traumatic stress disorder and depression.
‘‘It took me 12 months to even have a clear head,’’ she said.
Harris has six living children, two of whom were born before the quake.
Her twins Kaylee and Alexis, born in 2013, gave Harris hope and purpose, until her relationship with their father ended in 2014. The twins live with their father.
Harris does not work because of her depression and attends regular counselling sessions. Her mental health issues mean her children do not live with her.
She said her accommodation is only paid for until today. After that, Harris does not know what she will do. If she cannot find somewhere by then, she would be moved to another motel, and have to start paying for accommodation at a subsidised rate, she said.
Harris has been suspended from renting a Housing New Zealand home for a year, as this was the second time she went into arrears in 10 years of renting their houses.
She had caused $3875 worth of damage at a previous HNZ property, HNZ area manager Robin Mason said.
Mason said they ‘‘repeatedly’’ tried to engage with Harris to sustain her most recent tenancy.
Ministry of Social Development regional director service delivery Canterbury Shane Carter said they were in regular contact with Harris to discuss her housing needs.
‘‘Now she has confirmed her situation with us, we have been able to complete her application.’’
As of June 2017, the mean time for someone to be housed through the register was 116 days.