Homeless help

By Bridget Cook
A CRANBOURNE mother has been overwhelmed with support from the local community this week, after her family was left homeless.
Last week, the Cranbourne News reported the story of Kelly Mills, and her family, who were left homeless and forced to sleep in their car as of last Monday after the lease ran out on their Cranbourne rental home.
Since the News went to print, Ms Mills has been flooded with calls from the local community wanting to help her out and help put a roof over the family’s head.
Ms Mills felt the effects of Casey’s housing crisis after she applied for more than 35 rental homes in the area prior to the lease running out, but had no success.
Ms Mills said she had a good rental history and had never been behind in rent, having been in the rental scene for more than 10 years.
The Mills family was forced to spend last week sleeping in their car, along with their family pets, three cats and a bird, and move all their belongings into storage.
Ms Mills is on a disability pension due to back problems, while her daughter is on a carer’s pension and works part time as a nanny.
“A house is more important than anything else to us. It would be the first thing we would have in our budget,” Ms Mills said last week.
Ms Mills visited local housing and support service WAYSS last Monday, but could only get boarding rooms in a boarding house at $350 each per week, with a $150 up front deposit.
“We have spent every cent we have putting our furniture in storage and getting in a removalist,” she said.
Ms Mills said while she hadn’t secured a home in the long-term, things were looking up since last week.
“I’ve had so many calls from people offering rooms in their home for a night,” she said.
“I had offers for people to make us meals.
“For the past week, our old neighbour has let us stay in their pergola, which has a TV and heater and couches, and I have set up a mattress.”
Ms Mills is moving into the home of a couple in Hampton Park today, who have offered them two bedrooms and invited them over for a dinner on Sunday night.
She said she would like to thank everybody for their generosity.
“To the people who contacted me, it means so much,” she said.
“I had just about given up on humanity, but I have just met and spoken to the nicest, most warming people this past week.
“Even those that couldn’t help, their words of comfort just meant so much.”
Mr Mills she was still on the hunt for a permanent rental home.
Anyone who wants to help her can call her on 0421 777 156.