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While Corrine Tucker-Hunter was homeless twice, she has now moved into a transitional house and is looking to the future with her four-year-old son.
The first time she found herself without a place to stay was in 2015. The second time was earlier this year.
“I went into the women’s refuge as I had nowhere else to go,” Ms Tucker-Hunter said.
After four months at the refuge in Bega, she moved into a transitional property run by Mission Australia.
While she hopes for a house, she struggled to find anywhere to live in Bega.
“It’s quite hard to find anywhere affordable in Bega, as everything is way out of my league,” she said.
She wanted to get a Department of Housing property, but said the wait list was extremely long – her father was on it for 14 years.
From what she has seen of homelessness in the Bega Valley, she said there was a need for youth and men’s refuges.
“I do see a lot of men that are homeless and don’t have anywhere to go and that’s not fair,” Ms Tucker-Hunter said.
The 22-year-old was asked for advice on what to do if you find yourself homeless.
“Definitely go and see Mission Australia or any other organisation that can provide help with finding somewhere, even if it is long term or short term,” she said.
“I know there are people out there who are stuck and don’t know where to go or where to start.”
The services helped her son get into a preschool.
“He’s doing really well, he’s fantastic,” she said.
National Homelessness Week runs from August 6-12.