New Idea

‘I KEPT MY HOMELESSNE­SS A SECRET’

AN ACT OF KINDNESS GOT TAMARA BACK ON HER FEET AFTER SHE LOST HER HOME

- By Courtney Greatrex

Mother-of-four Tamara Firth remembers her terrifying first night living on the street as if it were yesterday.

Having recently separated from her husband of 30 years and with nowhere to go, she parked her car by the beach, locked the doors and did her best to sleep. The next morning, she went to her TAFE course as if she hadn’t just experience­d one of the worst nights of her life.

After 18 months living without a home in the Coffs Harbour area of New South Wales, Tamara felt like she’d tried everything to improve her situation. In a last-ditch effort, she commented on a post by charity Mission Australia, explaining her situation. The charity rallied around her, helping to find her a home within two weeks.

Five years on, Tamara says she is doing better than ever and even managed to save enough money to buy a block of land to build a home on.

“Homelessne­ss was something that I had to go through. I probably had to experience it to be where I am today,” the 55-year-old reflects.

After 30 years of marriage, Tamara and her husband’s relationsh­ip ended abruptly. Unable to afford the rent on her own, she split the cost with her then-husband.

The full-time mum was studying a community care course at TAFE and worked occasional hospitalit­y shifts. When the couple finally went their separate ways, Tamara struggled to pay the bills on her own and was forced to pack her belongings into a storage unit and leave her home. Three of Tamara’s kids went to live with their dad, while one son came with her. “The first night sleeping in the car was scary. My son and I camped at the beach in our cars. I didn’t want anyone to know because I was ashamed,” she recalls. For the next 18 months, Tamara moved between friends’ sofas, a garage, and terrifying and sleepless nights in the car. Some nights, the police would knock on her car window.

“Late nights and early mornings were the worst, you’d have to get up and move,” she explains. “At night it got dark early. So I spent a lot of time at Mcdonald’s charging my phone.”

During her stint without

‘LATE NIGHTS AND EARLY MORNINGS WERE THE WORST ... AT NIGHT IT GOT DARK EARLY’

a home, Tamara continued to look for work and study. She had just enough money to cover her phone bill, car insurance and to put some food in her belly.

“The money didn’t last long, but I still budgeted,” she explains. Tamara also says she asked for support from various agencies, but no-one knew where to send her.

“I tried all of the avenues asking what is out there and what I’m entitled to, but no-one seemed to know,” she recalls. Eventually, she spotted the Facebook post from Mission Australia that changed her life.

“I made a comment on the ad explaining my situation and asked if they could suggest anything. They reached out and said I should go to their

Coffs Harbour housing office, so I went straight away,” she says. “I filled in an applicatio­n for housing and it all happened quickly from there.”

Stepping through the front door of her new home, Tamara was brimming with emotion.

“At the time, it was a bit overwhelmi­ng,” she recalls. “I met some lovely people and I’ve been there ever since.”

In the accommodat­ion provided by Mission Australia, Tamara could finally focus on getting her life back on track.

“I can’t thank Mission Australia enough. It’s my home, I can do what

I want now. They are so accommodat­ing,” she says.

Tamara finished her studies, got a job as a youth support worker and purchased a car. Over the past five years, she’s been able to save enough to purchase her own piece of land and will start to build soon.

Now, Tamara says she is better off and wants to use her own voice to help others in a similar situation to her.

“Now, I’m the one in charge of my life – there’s no-one there to say, ‘You can’t do that,’” she smiles.

Offering advice, Tamara says, “It sucks. But you can survive. Get support. Scream and yell from the rooftops. Just get help.”

 ?? ?? Tamara with her children, Laura, Abby, Logan and Kade, and grandchild Sophia (right).
Tamara with her children, Laura, Abby, Logan and Kade, and grandchild Sophia (right).
 ?? ?? Dogs Layni and Tilly were Tamara’s main companions.
Dogs Layni and Tilly were Tamara’s main companions.
 ?? ??
 ?? ?? Tamara can’t wait to start building on her block of land!
Tamara can’t wait to start building on her block of land!

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia