Jenny and her one Housing Crisis

Introduction

When we first met with Jenny there was some quiet inner strength that has been forged over a lifetime of experience and her one housing crisis.  As a long term youth and community worker in regional Queensland Jenny has maintained her family and raised some wonderful kids in spite of some pretty significant personal challenges.  This work has included some of our most critical skills of child care, youth engagement and elder support.

Family tragedy and threat

Jenny started out raising her family in regional Victoria when a tragedy struck with the loss of her husband and the children’s father.  For a while Jenny persisted to try and run the mixed purpose farm as it was all they knew.  There was some support for sure, but the larger threat still existed and it was not long before they had to give up their idyllic location and move.  It is no small issue to leave a family home.

Destination Queensland

Having family in North Queensland Jenny brought her young family north into regional Queensland to rebuild a life here.  It was an unknown adventure driven by some desperation.

After getting established in Herberton, Jenny aspired to the great Australian Dream in this small community.  After some years that battle was lost again at the hands of the finance institutions. Despite decades of working for and with the most vulnerable in our community Jenny again found herself without a home.

Dark Clouds Brewing

The most recent home was here in the idyllic Yungaburra.  The Lakeside Caravan Park and motor inn on the shores of lake Tinaroo.

Recently this solution was also thrown into chaos with the owner considering looking for a long term commercial lease for the park management. This was a return for Jenny of her one housing crisis. For the owner this is their property but for Jenny it was her home.

It eventuated that the owner evicted Jenny and her collection of long term residents with this new business model in mind.  It is interesting that even with this pain and disruption the existing owner has still not been able to deliver their business strategy some years after the eviction and dismantling of their homes.

A home designed for Jenny to thrive

Into her later years Jenny has now resorted to a share house arrangement.  While this is a form of shelter there are limitations to this type of solution.  In the short term all these residents are still at the whim of a landlord. At best they can expect a 6-12 months lease for security.  Jenny is thankful for what but is willing to do the necessary work to take back control for her housing. This is a major journey personally and then with a like minded group to get away from this housing uncertainty.  It has been amazing to meet such people and understand the full depth of their housing journey. Together we are motivated to deliver a great home for a lady that undoubtedly deserves a safe, secure and long term home on her terms.

If you are inspired, the unedited longer form interview (1 hour) with Jenny is available on our YouTube channel here.

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