Amanda's fresh start

Published: 

9 December 2024 10:05AM

'Now I can get on with life.'

After their last home was deemed unliveable and sold, Amanda and her 2 youngest children moved into the family granny flat temporarily. With their move-out date looming, Amanda was desperately applying for rentals.

'The day I had to be out, that we were about to end up on the street, is the day I went to the Gold Coast Housing Service Centre,' Amanda says. Housing officer Shannon got Amanda and her children into crisis accommodation that afternoon.

'If it wasn’t for Shannon, I would have literally been living in my car with my 2 kids. I had nowhere to go, no options at all.’’

Over the next 3 months, Amanda thinks she must have applied for 100 properties across Logan and Brisbane with no luck.

'I’m a pretty strong person normally but this was breaking me, it depressed me, and I felt like a failure, and I shouldn’t have been.’

Shannon wasn’t the only person at the Gold Coast Housing Service Centre (HSC) to assist Amanda – through RentConnect officer Monique, Amanda secured a Helping Hand Headlease so that she and her children could move into a 3-bedroom home in Beenleigh.

'The house is perfect for us,' Amanda says. 'The kids are happy. I like how close and convenient everything is. I’m just happy to have a roof over my head, and to have my own place with the kids and stability. Now I can get on with looking for work, with deciding between doing a course in aged care or accounting and making a better future for us.

'Without a doubt, I would recommend anyone needing help contact their local HSC. Shannon and Monique were fantastic.'

Helping Hand Headlease

Under a Helping Hand Headlease, the Queensland Government leases a private rental property through a real estate agent and sub-leases it to a suitable client.

At the end of a successful lease, the lease is transferred to the client.

If you or someone you know needs housing help

Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or contact your local Housing Service Centre.

If you are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, contact the Homeless Hotline for free on 1800 474 753 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Find out more about housing help and support.