From homelessness to hope - Hayley's story

"We tried to prepare ourselves – but we didn’t know what to expect. We packed our camping gear and clothes into the car and left. We drove around for six months, just trying to live, usually at campsites or beaches. And the whole time we were homeless, I was pregnant. It was very, very overwhelming."

"It was so hard trying to get through every day accepting I was homeless and pregnant."

Not so long ago, life for Hayley* and Cam* was hard, but manageable.

Cam had a reliable job working in a local meat packing plant. They had a home they’d been renting for two years, and two lovely children — four-year-old Carter*, and baby Leo*. They were happy.

Signs of trouble

Suddenly, things took a turn for the worse. First, their landlord raised the rent on their small two-bedroom unit — an increase that came at a time when rising food, fuel and energy prices were already hurting them.

Then a few months later… another rent hike. Then another — effectively doubling the family’s rent in the space of a year.

As Hayley says, “I don’t even understand how rent can increase and double in a year. It’s very sad that people can’t even afford a home.”

Eventually, their rent went up to a point that they could no longer afford, and the family was given notice to leave.

On the brink of homelessness, Hayley and Cam believed they could find another place. But the reality of the housing crisis quickly kicked in.

Rents had shot up, competition was fierce, and Hayley soon realised there was nowhere they could afford.

“We tried our best, but we couldn’t compete with people who were applying and offering higher rent or lump sums. Then we found out we were expecting a new baby, so we were looking for something bigger, and we just couldn’t find it!"

With nowhere else to go, Hayley and Cam desperately tried to fix things on their own. As Hayley recalls, “We drove around for six months, just trying to live, usually at campsites or beaches. And the whole time we were homeless, I was pregnant. It was very, very overwhelming.”

“We actually didn’t tell anyone what we were going through …,” says Hayley. “We felt embarrassed I guess, and just wanted to keep it to ourselves.”

Eventually, they had to ask for help, and that’s when they came to the Salvos.

And when they did — it changed everything.

A safe space to thrive

With support from the Salvos, Hayley's family got the new beginning they desperatelt needed.

“The Salvation Army were amazing. So welcoming”, recounts Hayley. “They helped us in ways I can’t even explain. Financially, with food and petrol, with clothes, with our mental health, and with help finding a home. We got it just in time — three weeks before I gave birth! You feel so thankful, so blessed and so lucky to have their support.”

Hayley and Cam’s months of panic, fear, shame, and despair came to an end when they received the care and support of the Salvos.

Hayley explains, “Now that we have a home, we’re so happy again. We’ve had the baby. We’re just settling into the house a bit more. Once that’s happened, Cam’s going back to his old job.”

Hayley and her family are immensely grateful for the Salvos, who walked alongside them in their time of need, and provided the hope, help and opportunity of a new beginning they desperately needed.