From homelessness to hope for a growing family — Nick and Rachel's story

“I was really excited at first. But then it sunk in, and I started to panic — because I couldn’t have a baby in the car. That changed everything.”

Nowhere to call home 

Nick and Rachel, both in their early twenties, found themselves hit by a series of devastating setbacks. Like so many young couples, they dreamed of getting married and starting a family. They dreamed of a home — a place to grow, a place to plan for the future.

But life took a devastating turn. 

First, Nick lost his job. Then, their tenancy ended.

Nick and Rachel tried desperately to find somewhere to live, but the housing crisis made this impossible.

“We were trying to get into the rental market, but the market is just crazy. The housing crisis played into it a lot — everywhere we looked was so expensive. We were applying and weren’t even getting looked at.”

A growing family in crisis

Despite their best efforts, the couple were repeatedly knocked back in the fiercely competitive rental market. Without a home or with nowhere to go, they were forced to make an impossible decision — live in their car.

“We stayed in a lot of different campsites, sleeping on a blow-up mattress in the back of the station wagon, but it was very hard.”

Nick also did everything he could to find work. He had the relevant qualifications and experience and desperately applied for jobs every day — only to face rejection after rejection, adding to their despair.

As Nick recalls, “I applied for over 60 jobs in the space of three weeks. I started feeling like I was unemployable.”

Then, amidst their struggle, Rachel discovered she was pregnant. What should have been a moment of joy and happiness suddenly became one of fear and anxiety. 

“I was really excited at first. But then it sunk in, and I started to panic, because I couldn’t have a baby in the car.” 

The thought of bringing a baby into the world while living in a car was unbearable. They were trapped in a desperate situation, with no idea what to do.

A ray of hope 

For Nick and Rachel, reaching out to the Salvos was their turning point.

After receiving immediate emergency relief in the form of material and financial support, they were appointed a Doorways support worker who was able to sit down and talk with them, walk alongside them on their journey from hardship to self-sufficiency. 

Nick mentions, “The Doorways support worker took our names, asked us about our situation and took us through some paperwork. He was excellent. It felt more like talking to a friend. It was a huge weight lifted.”

The Doorways support worker was able to help them effectively navigate the housing process and get them into Salvos transitional housing within a matter of weeks, providing safe and secure accommodation where they could stay while they recovered from their experience of homelessness.

“We got transitional housing in three weeks. That was amazing…some of the best news we’ve ever had,” Nick recalls. “Just the feeling we were going to have something stable for our baby. We were over the moon!” 

Nick and Rachel were overjoyed to have a roof over their heads after Rachel gave birth — a place that was safe, warm and stable, where they could begin to heal and look towards a better future.

The Salvation Army continued providing wraparound support to the family throughout their time spent in Salvos transitional housing, and eventually delivered to them the amazing news that a long-term permanent home was available.

Nick and Rachel are filled with gratitude for The Salvation Army and all those who helped them during their toughest times. As Rachel says thankfully now, “The Salvation Army is the most amazing and thoughtful organisation that could possibly exist. We are so very grateful for the support and help we’ve received. It’s been life-changing.”

_{*Names and some details have been changed to protect privacy.}