I can't afford to be alive anymore. No family to help me out. I don't know what to do or where to begin.

[marcymae]

Hi everyone, I hope you're all keeping safe and well during Covid and taking care of yourselves.

Right now, I really need some support and Amy advice I can get. I don't know what to do or where to start. I'm in my late twenties, in NSW, and my rent is due this Monday or I'm going to be evicted

I'm on a centrelink payment, with a job agency, receive rent assistance (Centrelink) and have a health care card. I've been using the local food bank because I can't afford to eat. I'm extremely lucky that my GP bulk bills and does a brilliant job with my care. I've used my once yearly Centrelink advance up, and do not qualify for an urgent payment (my next week's payment advanced toe today).

I have severe depression, anxiety, ADHD, and PTSD. Recovery is a part of my daily life and I have the will to keep improving, although not always the means to afford everything I can to help facilitate it. As far as I know I'm in touch with all the local services and charities and what they have to offer. I've already been given an extension to pay my rent from my landlord which she can't and won't do again.

Basically, I can't afford to be alive anymore. I usually budget very well and can live off extremely little. I'm always looking to improve myself and my situation and have been applying for different jobs with no success. My job agency has yet to find me work even though I'm a good candidate and have a very good case manager who's been helping me brilliantly. Apparently a job is coming, one that I've been told I'd be perfect for, but it's been months now and I'm at the absolute end of my financial rope.

I struggle with horrible flashbacks, night terrors, nightmares. I experienced extremely prolonged and violent trauma growing up and it feels like I'm paying for it even more so now that I'm an adult. I also experienced terrible domestic violence over a year ago and spent a long time trying to escape and to get help and treatment and to rebuild my life. I knew that I would most likely face homelessness upon escaping the domestic violence, and after getting away and not being able to keep myself afloat anymore I just collapsed mentally from all of the stress and became homeless. I became socially isolated during the abuse. I made my way to a shelter and my experience there was as terrifying as the domestic violence.

I have nothing left to sell for rent, and I don't think I can face homelessness again. I'm terrified, exhausted, and so sad. Sorry for the long post.

[Sophie_M]

Hey Marcy, welcome to the Beyond Blue forums. We're so glad to have you join us and thank-you for sharing your journey with us. We can hear that it's been a very stressful year for you and we're sorry to hear you're struggling to pay rent this month. We acknowledge how scary a position this must be. Please know that there is support available and you're not alone in this. 

We would recommend calling the Link2home hotline on 1800 152 152. From 9am to 10pm daily, Link2home provides callers with information, assessments and referrals to homelessness support and accommodation services across NSW. They might be able to refer you to a service that can assist in rent payments or locate a temporary place to stay. 

You might also like to try the "Ask Izzy" website. Ask Izzy is a search tool to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness find shelter, food, health and other critical support services.

We'd also recommend reading through the following website: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/accommodation-renting-and-homelessness#a3... It provides a number of resources that might be useful to you. 

If you feel that it would be beneficial to you to talk through your feelings with a counsellor, please feel free to contact the Beyond Blue Support Service anytime on 1300 22 4636 or get in touch with us on Webchat 3pm-12am AEST here: www.beyondblue.org.au/getsupport

We hope some of these resources are helpful to you but we understand how tricky this situation must be. It's a really good step reaching out here. Hopefully a few of our members will come by to welcome you over the next few days. 

[monkey_magic]

Hi marcymae,

I'd like to start of by saying I think you are a resourceful young woman and I really hope life gets easier for you.

I too was in your situation and faced homelessness. I had to leave where I was living but found something for half the price. That's how I was able to get by again.

It may be renting a room in a share house, finding a cheap granny flat etc. Or are you able to have a flatmate come and live with you to share half the expenses?

I temporarily lived in my car and slept outside sometimes until I was able to find something cheaper.

The options I mentioned might not be ideal but only have to be short term. Once you get a job your financial life will become so much easier.

Good luck

🍀

[tranzcrybe]

Hi marcymae,

I don't think you can be evicted under covid19 tenancy laws. See this website:-

https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/publications/coronavirus-covid-19/property/moratorium

Sorry, I haven't fully read your post yet...

Regards,

t.

[tranzcrybe]

Hi marcymae,

"my rent is due this Monday or I'm going to be evicted" - I assume you have been served your 'notice to vacate' and the 30/60/90 days is up on Monday?

"I've already been given an extension to pay my rent from my landlord which she can't and won't do again" -
Okay, I guess you have been down that path also, but I hope you have explored every procedure for allowing you to stay - offering a repayment plan, using 'official' correspondence (as opposed to a discussion), etc.

If evicted, you will still have bond monies to claim which may leave enough to rough it in a caravan park or cheaper rooms until you get back some financial liquidity. Also, finding a waitressing or dishwashing/cleaning job can provide income as well as free meals (if they are kind enough), at least until your agency job comes through.

Regards,

t.