When we first met Bernadette, she was escaping from domestic violence with her three-week old baby.
Coming to Hobart City Mission and admitting she needed to help wasn’t easy for her. Bernadette describes herself as self-sufficient, but overtime she learnt “to ask for help”.
Thanks to the wonderful support of people like you help came to her in the form of food packs, vouchers and emotional support through our Emergency Assistance Program. Once Bernadette was back on her feet, we didn’t hear from her for a while, until June last year when her father passed away.
As an only child, who had already lost her mum, she was laden with the high costs of organising her late father’s funeral and sorting out his estate. Once again Bernadette had to ask for help.
“I’ve only ever gone to Hobart City Mission, and only ever will,” says Bernadette. It is at least a small comfort to Bernadette that she has somewhere safe to turn no matter what life throws at her.
Things got even worse for Bernadette in December, a time of year that is meant to be filled with joy and love.
On top of the financial stress of Christmas, and the unexpected bills piling up from her father’s passing, Bernadette and her two children were placed on the emergency waiting list for Housing Tasmania after experiencing threatening and terrifying behaviour from their neighbours.
Their home was no longer safe to live in.
“The house is structurally safe, but the surrounding environment is not safe for me, let alone the children,” said Bernadette, quivering with fright.
Six months later, they are still on the waiting list, like so many in Southern Tasmania being affected by the housing crisis.
We still don’t know when Bernadette and her children will have a safe home to call their own. But we do know that you will do all that you can to help them. It is people like you, who provide financial and emotional relief to people like Bernadette.
It is not too late to make a difference. Call 6215 4200 or visit www.hobartcitymission.org.au/donate-now to donate to our Winter Appeal.
*model images used to protect privacy.