Perth mum is forced to live in a car with her six-year-old child as housing crisis grips the nation

A heartbreaking photo has highlighted the grim reality of Australia’s rental crisis – showing a six-year-old boy who has been forced to sleep in a ute for months, with his favourite toys piled up in his lap. 

Mother-of-one Mackay, 38, from Perth, couch-surfed with family members for two years after escaping a bad relationship. 

She and her little boy Charlie were eventually left with no other option but to sleep in her car after she found she was unable to secure a rental home due to intense competition and her lack of credit and tenancy history. 

Perth mum Mackay and her six-year-old son Charlie (pictured) were forced to live in their car for six months after they struggled to find a home to rent

The situation got so desperate Mackay made a plea on a Mandurah community Facebook page asking for help.  

Claire Orange, a therapist and co-founder of cybersafety program Digii Social, spotted the post – and opened up her home to the pair. 

‘I instantly recognised Charlie’s school uniform in a picture Mackay posted and contacted the school to understand their situation,’ Ms Orange said.

‘I found out a rental would become available for them within a month and offered they stay with me while they waited.’

Mackay has been described as a ‘remarkable mother’ who consistently put her son Charlie’s (left and right) needs first and made sure he was happy and healthy despite being homeless

Ms Orange, herself a mother of four, described Mackay as a ‘remarkable’ mum who consistently put her boy first.

‘I admire her terrifically for her fortitude and resilience,’ Ms Orange said. 

‘I cannot give this woman any more credit. She looked after her son exceptionally and made sure she did everything to keep him stable, healthy and clean.

‘Taking him to school every day, cooking for him, putting up her small summer tent when the weather allowed so that they were able to sleep lying stretched out instead of bundled up. 

‘She’s a remarkable, ferocious mumma who’s put her child’s needs first consistently.’

Ms Orange has since started a GoFundMe page to help Mackay and Charlie get back on their feet – with the struggling family ‘on the cusp’ of moving into social housing. 

Therapist and  co-founder of cybersafety program Digii Social Claire Orange (right) opened her home to Mackay (left) and Charlie (bottom left) until they were offered housing. Ms Orange has since started a GoFundMe page to help the pair get back on their feet

The funds will be used to help Mackay and Charlie buy furniture and whitegoods for their home. 

‘Mackay and Charlie have been part of our family for the last month – and what a delightful gift they’ve been,’ Ms Orange wrote on the GoFundMe page. 

‘And now that a home is available – I’d love to give Mackay and Charlie enough money to start their new life together.’ 

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Australia faces a major housing crisis with rental prices skyrocketing as vacancy rates plummet.

SQM Research revealed rental vacancy rates fell to the nation’s lowest rate since 2006 – at 0.9 per cent in August. 

The total number of rental vacancies Australia-wide stood at 32,948 residential properties, which was sharply down from 36,741 in July. 

The national vacancy rate for rental properties across the country fell to 0.9 per cent in August causing a spike in homelessness in Australia (pictured, homeless and displaced people sheltering in tents) 

Ms Orange said vulnerable women face ‘insurmountable risks’ when looking for shelter and opening her home was nothing more than ‘being a good human’. 

She has urged anyone with a spare room or space in their house to give people like Mackay and Charlie a chance at a normal life and the protection afforded by having a roof overhead. 

‘Making space in our home for this little family has been a no-brainer – whatever we have, we have more than this little family and sharing our home while they waited for theirs made sense. 

‘There is nothing wonderous or grand about what I have done. To make someone feel safe and to help them solve problems in differing aspects of her life is enough. 

‘I was able to help Mackay sort through paperwork and secure housing – something she did not have cognitive space to deal with when she was thinking of survival.’

The fund has received 35 donations totalling $2,565 and hopes to raise $10,000. 

Lots of renters, no-where to stay: Australia’s rental crisis

SQM Research recently revealed rental vacancy rates fell to the nation’s lowest rate since 2006 to 0.9 per cent in August. 

The total number of rental vacancies Australia-wide stood at 32,948 residential properties, which was sharply down from 36,741 in July. 

Sydney and Melbourne vacancy rates fell by 0.2 per cent to 1.3 per cent and 1.4 per cent, respectively. 

Perth vacancy rates in August fell to 0.4 per cent while Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin and Hobart sat well below 1.0 per cent.

SQM Research revealed the total number of rental vacancies Australia-wide stood at 32,948 properties in August – a sharp decline from 36,741 in a month (pictured)

Vacancy rates in the Melbourne CBD rose slightly to 2.1 per cent, while Sydney CBD and Brisbane CBD fell 3.1 per cent and 1.8 per cent respectively.

The vacancy rate has affected rental prices with all capital cities recording a 2.6 per cent rise in rental costs – with rent rising by 20.1 per cent across the country in the last 12 months.  

The national median weekly asking rent for a dwelling is recorded at $525 a week, with Sydney recording the highest weekly rent for a house at $845. 

Units in Adelaide remain the best rental affordability options out of all the capital cities at $376 a week. 

 

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