A home for 2021

“Getting a home in time for Christmas and 2021 was the best present for my family because it happened two weeks before the school summer holidays,” said single mother of three Jade, who was recently provided a home via Hume Community Housing working in partnership with Carries Place.

Carrie’s Place is a well-respected Domestic Violence and Homelessness Service that has provided support for women, children and men in the Maitland and Lower Hunter region for over 30 years and Hume secures safe and affordable housing, whilst helping provide opportunities and support for some of the region’s most vulnerable people.

Originally from Sydney, Jade moved up to the Hunter with her first daughter over 20 years ago to live in Booragul, where her relationship with the region began.

Later she moved to Tweed Heads, met her husband, and had two daughters with him. This is when her life began to shift. The end result was a move to Northern Queensland, domestic violence and ultimately, homelessness.

Over the ensuing years the control increased as did the domestic violence and psychological abuse. This took its toll on Jade and her daughters.

“The situation became intolerable and it was my eldest daughter, who was living back in the Hunter area, that suggested I return,” she said.

By the time she returned, Jade had lost her home and her financial foothold – yet she had no choice but to leave. This is when she turned first to Carries Place and Hume for a solution.

According to Jenna Nadiotis, Hume’s Housing Options Manager in the Hunter area, domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women, children and young people.

“Sometimes going home isn’t a safe option and we are here to give those escaping violence hope, share a vision with them and show them the pathway out of homelessness. Navigating such traumatic situations on your own can seem impossible,” she said.

The partnership with Carrie’s Place means that local women and children can access the Temporary Accommodation Program, receive support to maintain their new tenancy, while continuing to receive specialist domestic violence support so they can remain safely housed with a pathway to safe longer-term housing.

In this case Jade and her family has reaped the benefits of a new home for the holidays and hope for the future. Jade has also secured employment so 2021 is looking up for her and her family.

Jade provided a wonderful Christmas message to all those who had helped her which you can watch here.