A week on from the floods and most of us have been able to get on the road to recovery. But a warm home after heavy rain and flooding is not a luxury afforded to everyone.
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Single mother of six, Kate James (name changed for privacy), has been homeless since mid-February of 2021 after her rental became unavailable.
For the past four months prior to becoming homeless, she had been searching for a rental property in Merimbula or Pambula and needed to find something in the area as three of her six children have significant disabilities.
"I'm not being picky, I've got to stay in the Pamula and Merimbula area as my son goes to the special unit school in Pambula. I can't go to Eden or Bega as it's too far".
Ms James is a full-time carer for her children, but before becoming homeless she was working through a medical reception course. Her studies ceased after loosing access to internet and a stable place to work.
From mid-February until late March 2021, the family of seven lived in local caravan park in a camper trailer and a caravan borrowed from a friend. Ms James was still paying $400 each week for the spot.
"I'm even putting signs up around cafes with my story saying that I urgently need a rental. I'm just really battling at the moment," she said.
Impact of NSW South Coast flooding on people in crisis
Ms James was frightened for the safety of her family during the flooding events of last week.
"The SES had to come to come out and put a whopping big tarp up on that night we received a lot of rain. Then they put down sandbags to secure it all.
"The water came straight underneath and the annex part of the campervan was completely flooded. Everything was damp. I had to throw out bedding and the kids' clothing.
"Luckily I have really good friends who came in and gave me doonas, new towels and a bunch of pillows."
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Ms James has been in contact with several support services that are assisting with her case to find crisis accommodation.
Although relieved to receive support, she found it disheartening when told by a support worker it would be difficult for her to find a rental with six kids and their therapy dog.
"It just broke my heart, I can't just dump them, they are my children!
"I've just been so broken down at the moment, it's just wrong, coming into winter with three children with a disability is just so scary, they will catch everything," said Ms James.
Prejudice towards single women with children in Bega Valley's rental market shortage
Coordinator at the Bega Women's Resource Centre (WRC), Jane Hughes, is working on Ms James' case and said single women looking for housing are at a disadvantage due to stigma.
"There are a lot of ideas in our society about what a single women with children looks like or what they can manage and afford, especially when there is a huge demand and real estate agents and landlords are able to be more picky with their tenants.
"There is also prejudice about what looks good on paper and often a two-person household with a steady income is viewed is being a better option for a landlord than a single woman with children," Ms Hughes said.
There has been an increased strain on local support services that are helping a growing number of women through food banks, donated goods, showers and kitchen facilities.
"You can help by providing showers or food, but at the end of the day someone is going to be sleeping in their car with their four children," Ms Hughes said.
A lack of government funding into the sector towards infrastructure and resources means social support services are not always able to provide what these people need.
Homelessness crisis support services pushed to the brink by housing crisis
Program manager for Bega and Cooma Homelessness Support Services with Mission Australia Donna Davis said Ms James' situation is complex and that the current crisis goes far beyond their means.
"The last thing you want to see is women and children out on the streets. Everyone deserves to have a roof over their head, everyone has been through so much in this area, there is only so much can you take.
Ms Davis explained that for larger families it was even more difficult to find crisis accommodation in places like motels or caravan parks due to the influx of holiday makers from January to March and then into Easter.
That was the case for Ms James and her six children who were asked to leave the caravan park they were staying at on March 28 to make space for tourists.
The family has found a short-term solution on a property in the local area where they were able to move their caravan and camper trailer, but will still need to lease shower and toilet facilities that will cost $250 a week.
"People in this area have been particularly traumatised due to the bushfires, COVID, and now flooding," Ms Davis said.
Ms Davis explained that Mission Australia can help point people in the right direction and try to get them on to lists for social housing, but there is just not enough in the area.
"The government needs to invest more into social and affordable housing and increase income support for low income earners.
"This isn't just an issue for people who may have cycled in and out of homelessness in the past, it's an issue for all renters in the community," she said.
Rural and regional Australians are being priced out by a burgeoning housing market
Giddy Brandauer from Raine & Horne Merimbula said the issue of rental shortages is widespread across regional NSW.
"It's something that's been happening Australia wide in rural and coastal regions and it is the flow of effect of COVID, people have been too cooped up in their city apartments and they're looking for that lifestyle change.
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In Ms Brandauer's opinion, first home buyers were also being out-priced by the market which has led to an uptake in these people accessing the rental market.
According to realestate.com.au, regional markets have recorded price growth of 9.6 per cent, exactly double that in capital cities at 4.8 per cent.
The other issue is the race of city-dwellers hoping to access more affordable regional markets.
Executive of home ownership at NAB Andy Kerr said, "we have seen many of our customers moving further out from inner-city areas and expect this trend to continue as hybrid working models become the norm in several industries".
For single parents like Ms James, the sole goal remains finding a roof over her head.
"It's pretty hectic at the moment, one of my friends found us a burner drum to sit around at night but the kids are still freezing.
"My child with autism is not coping at all. The kids need a stable home. I'm just hoping to get a permanent home so I can just get on with life," she said.
If you would like to donate blankets, towels or non-perishable food to the family, please take donations to the Women's Resource Centre on either Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 until 4pm. Please specify that you would like your donation to go to the family featured in the Bega District News article.
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