An Open Letter To The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Kevin Rudd, & Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh MP
My name is Catherine Bolt and I am many things.
Firstly, I am one of the estimated 100,000 homeless people living in Australia today. I say estimated because homelessness in Australia is far from an exact science and for the most part these people live hidden and ashamed from the rest of society. I have made the choice to make my homelessness public through my blog and active online social networking. I do so because I am not ashamed of who or where I am and I know I have acted with honour.
I have been homeless since the 17th of December, 2009. I spent Christmas day under a make-shift shelter made from tarpaulins at a showground in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. I have survived several weeks of torrential rain, although my tents have flooded and much of our clothing and food was destroyed by damp, mould and mildew.
I have travelled around camping at showgrounds and in National Parks in South East Queensland – we cannot afford to stay in a conventional caravan park during peak school holiday periods.
I am a wife. A wife to one of the hundreds, maybe thousands, of small business owners who were offered no protection from the Global Financial Crisis and whose decade long careers were lost due to its impact. My husband is a proud 42-year-old man who has been employed since the day he left home at 15 and has worked hard and always provided for his family. He has paid taxes in this country for 27 years.
I am a humanitarian and conservationist who founded a not for profit organisation which exists to increase the quality of life of underprivileged and orphaned children through family placement, housing, education and emotional nourishment. And to lead the children to a life of compassion & understanding of the environment by creating sustainable lifestyles which enable them to live in harmony with the planet. Our Association is dedicated to raising enough funds to build an orphanage and wildlife refuge in Sumatra Indonesia by December 2010.
But most of all, I am a mother and these are my children.
This photo was taken in happier times, in the backyard of the home from which we were evicted for rental arrears. Yes, you’ve counted right we have nine children. Nine children that we have raised independently and without assistance since we met in 1999. Nine children that are raised with compassion for their fellow man and who work in environmental and humanitarian awareness (as young as 6) and who have a more positive impact on their earth than most children who come from much smaller families.
Our only daughter is Ailish – she’s on the far left being held by our eldest son, Loki (he has just graduated from Nambour High). Ailish is six-years-old and along with 14-year-old Ash (he’s the skinny smiley one on the right in the back row) they have created an amazing environmental & social educational program for kids aged 6 – 14. Both children are high achievers and academically gifted. As homeless children however, they are at risk of not achieving their full potential due to lack of sleep, anxiety and the lack of stability and familiarity that not having a fixed address causes.
Ailish and Charlie (3) sleep in a rented camper trailer with me, at a cost of $400/wk. According to Department of Housing guidelines they aren’t allowed to share a bedroom. As it is, they share a bed. The trailer has a sink, tiny fridge, a stove top and two beds but no oven or bathroom. It has a “living area” including the kitchenette that measures approximately four square metres - this is where my husband prepares 3 meals a day for 11 people.
They are both young and as such wake up several times each night to use the bathroom. This requires me to wake my husband and have him leave the tent that he shares with 5 of our other children and supervise one young child while I walk with the other up to 150m in the rain to the toilets. Toilets, which I should mention we have shared with cane toads, mice and rats.
Kelsey is 8 – he is the smiley face in the Spiderman suit at the front. Kelsey has been diagnosed with a severe anxiety disorder, ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder and Encopresis (fecal incontinence). Kelsey is terrified of the dark, spiders, snakes and all things that go bump in the night. Kelsey can’t go into a tent alone at night, nor can he come out of one. He has spent most of our homeless time terrified. I know you both have children, and as such you would understand how it feels for a parent to see their child so scared that they shake, cry and scream.
Bailey is 12-years-old (in the Sydney Swans t-shirt in the back row) – he has been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome and ADHD, he too struggles with the instability of a transient lifestyle but is at the age where that begins to manifest in more aggressive ways than just becoming withdrawn or isolated. As a homeless child he is at risk of depression and as he grows older, perhaps even drug and alcohol abuse.
These are my children.
I maintained most of my pregnancies privately – self insured I paid for a private obstetrician and I payed several thousand dollars for each child to be born as a private patient in a public hospital. And although some of my children have special needs we have used private paediatricians and self-funded their treatment, only ever claiming the minimum Medicare benefits to which all Australians are entitled.
When four of our children required specialist medical attention in October & November this year the cost to my family was crippling and regrettably we had to make the decision whether to put our children first, or pay our rent. Whilst we have empathy for the owner of the home in which we lived – the way our tenancy was handled by the real estate agent involved was negligent to say the least – I very much doubt that the owner is aware of the full extent of which the agency failed in its duties. None of which is relevant now.
We made a decision to have a large family and we take full responsibility for them, our children are not the reason we were evicted from our home but we are constantly discriminated against because of our family, and it is certainly a contributing factor in why we have not been able to secure a rental property.
The Australian public has no sympathy or compassion for large families. We are constantly judged and criticised by complete strangers that for the first time in 27 years my husband is unemployed and apparently I should not be wasting my time dedicating my life to saving orphans in Indonesia. We are criticised by half the community for now accepting Government benefits, and criticised by the other half for not applying for them sooner.
We originally agreed to a newspaper article foolishly assuming that humans have the compassion to understand our situation but instead we were subjected to public attack online and humiliated to the point where I honestly thought my husband would not survive.
I had previously believed that there is no excuse for people to be homeless in Australia and that those who are must do so either by choice or by sheer ignorance of how best to get what they need. The reality, which I’ve discovered, is that unless you are a cookie-cutter family, a menace to society, are a drug addict, alcoholic, beat your wife or have a gambling addiction – there is simply nothing available.
My point – how many houses have been found for Dennis Ferguson since he was released from jail? Our family, who are for the most part dedicated to community and environmental service, however, are no one’s priority.
The Department of Housing has told us that they have nothing available for us, based on their regulations of what we must be issued. Apparently it’s more appropriate for the children to be living day-to-day, sleeping shoulder-to-shoulder in tents than it would be for them to house us in anything less than 5 bedrooms.
The Department has contacted the local real estate agencies on our behalf to ask them to consider renting to us, but they have all refused – unless, of course, if we move to Gympie, where my husband has an even less likelihood of finding work.
Had we lost our home in a bushfire or flood we could expect our country to support us, we could count on our fellow Aussies to back us up and help us out. No one would question whether our rent was up to date, whether we were employed, how many children we had or the depth of our own personal character. They would be there – as they should be – because we’re Aussies and that’s what mates do. We might even get a visit from the Prime Minister or Premier to see the devastation, hear our story and offer their condolences.
Like most of the homeless people we have met – we expect no hand out from anyone. We just want a fair go – something this country used to be about. At very least, we need an affordable place to camp long-term with power, showers & toilets close to Maroochydore so that when school returns at the end of the month our kids can come home to the same place every day.
We do not drink, smoke, take drugs or gamble. We are not poorly educated or unskilled. We are not part of the estimated 70% of homeless people who are suffering from mental illness. We are just average, every day Australians. We are not perfect – but I am happy to be judged by anyone who is.
We welcome you Mr Rudd & Ms Bligh to come and visit us – spend a day and/or a night living as we do. I bring this to your attention only because I believe that no compassionate Australian who has the power to make a change would allow this to continue if they knew that it existed.
Sincerely,
Catherine Bolt
Writer/Humanitarian/Conservationist/Mother/Optimist
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Cate,
I have emailed both the Prime Minister and Anna Bligh with your message and asked them to please assist you and your family. If everyone does this maybe something will happen.
Cassy
Christina Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Great idea Cassy. How do we go about it?
Amber Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
I have done it too. KevinPM – google it and it comes up with his website. Anna Bligh into google and it comes up with the premier’s website. I have also forwarded it to A Current Affair…..I’m sure they can get some help happening.
Christina Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Thanks Amber.
The website for Kevin Rudd is: http://www.pm.gov.au/ There is a link “Email your PM”.
The website for Anna Bligh is: http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/ There is also an email option.
You’re nearly making me cry. I sincerely hope that borth Kevin rudd and Anna Bligh personally read this and get off their arses and do something about.
A fair go is all you want/need, and I sincerely hope you get it, and soon.
Talia´s last blog ..Christmas Round-Up
OMG I’m feeling for you. I wish I could pick you all up and bring you home with me. I can’t believe that the dept of housing, any house is better then a tent !
Lisakama´s last blog ..I/T Guy builds a Tree House
I feel for you but I don’t understand why you would be proud to say that you paid for hospital stays when giving birth to your children when you could have gone in as a public patient. It would have been free.
Not causing a strain on Medicare isn’t exactly something to be proud of or ashamed of so I don’t get the point of that comment either. The system is there to help. I just don’t get it, I mean, if you’re sick, you’re sick.
Cate Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
My point is simply that I have paid to have my children and not created a burden on others tax dollars. Having a baby in a public hospital as a public patient might have been “free” to me at the time but it wouldn’t be free to the health system.
Ang Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Emiy, With all due respect, I think you might have missed the point of the letter. This is a family of 11 who are not being supported by our government. Whether they chose to pay their own hospital cover earlier on during less financial hardships, really isn’t the point. They are just highlighting that they have never ever abused the government system, and now, when they need it most, there’s no support.
Catherine, Please let me know who I would need to write to in order to support your family’s case. I am based now based abroad but your message has made it here and I’m happy to help in any way I can. It breaks my heart to read this. If anything like this happened to my brother or sister, cousins, aunties or uncles I would be devastated…
Thanks,
Ang
Fully support you in your letter to ruddles, and anyone else you send it too.
I think it’s about bloody time they started listening to the people and our issues than just pretending too, flying about the place shaking hands and holding babies…we have a serious homeless issue that is out of control, once these people were labeleed vagrants and locked up for it…we haven’t come much further…
your not forgotten cate…lets help you get your story out to the public more..
Phill..
http://www.caboolturecommunityaction.com
I have sent this around and asked people to forward as well. I am a professional post grad educated woman who lost my home in late 2008. Homelessness does happen to everyday people more than is imagined. There is little if any help. Australia should be ashamed of itself. I hope we can get you some help and quickly.
Are you kidding? You pay $400 a week for a camper trailer? Rent a house. I understand that you’re in a difficult situation, but choosing to live in a caravan park doesn’t help. I refuse to believe that you cannot find a rental property, even a small one.
Comparing your situation to Dennis Ferguson’s doesn’t help your case. If you were a group of recently released from prison, convicted child-rapists being constantly hounded by the media, and deemed to be under threat of vigilante violence, I imagine your case would be a higher priority. And that your case would be handled by bothe the Department of Corrections and the appropriate housing authority. But you’re not. You’re a family that has ended up homeless.
While I respect that what you and your husband are going through is difficult, and that you seem to be handling it incredibly well, you need to find your own way out if it. Everyone else does.
Cate Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Hmm… Rent a house? Why didn’t I think of that? If we were able to find a rental property I can assure you we wouldn’t be in tents. I’m curious as to whom you know who has found their way out of it. Perhaps they can give me some pointers. As I said we’re not looking for a hand out – just a fair go.
Fern @ Alternabub Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Byron, I am the mother to two children (1 and 2 years old), my husband and both have paying jobs and good rental references, and yet we still struggled to find somewhere to rent when we moved out of our home in Sydney and relocated to the mid-north coast. Given the choice between a working couple and a working couple with two young children, RE agents will without a doubt chose the former, I can only imagine the struggle that Cate is having with nine children.
I hope something good comes from this post Cate, thank you for sharing your experience and highlighting the flaws in the way the housing department is governed. I hope you find somewhere permanent for your family soon.
Fern @ Alternabub´s last blog ..24 Hour Sale At IttiBitti.com.au
SWF Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
It’s not just families that struggle, despite having a great salary and 12 years of stellar references, I couldn’t compete against double income earners for one bedroom units. I’m paying through the nose now and it wouldn’t take much to see me in the same position as Cate.
It upsets me to think that all of the lazy incompetent so and sos I’ve worked with in the past never got fired but the GFC comes along and hard working, dedicated, talented people lose their jobs and can’t get hired because another 100 people just like them are going for every job. It isn’t a slow descent into debt from endless bad financial decisions – it’s crash and burn.
Good luck Cate, I hope you get what you need.
Kat Reply:
January 8th, 2010 at 12:30 am
Byron – My goodness, You must be one of three things, either not living in Qld, you have no children or are a home owner.
The rental situation in Qld is more competetive than the job market and after seeing the struggle I faced trying to find somewhere that would accept my application with 2 kids in tow (and YES- before you ask, I AM employed) Children in rental premises are less desirable than pets! Yes moving would be an option, but this again requires the money to do so. The public housing siuation in every state in Australia is deplorable and truly only works if you have been recently released from incaceration, get a high media attention or had the foresight 10yrs ago that you may need it (abet- you probably didnt qualify for the waiting list back then)
Cate – My heart and prayers go out to you, I’ve noticed on Twitter (how I first found out about your letter) that you are now gaining quite substantial attention. Hopefully this will allow for some futher options to become available to you. Good Luck, I will be checking back regularly to see how it all goes. And congratulations for having the guts to be so very truthful about the situation with everyone else in the netiverse, regardless of the possible negative reactions it may prevoke, some of which have been evident so far on this comments page. All the best.
Lauren Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
I went to an open house for a 3-bedder to rent during the week. 40 other interested parties turned up. Among them were large families, professional couples, singles and single mothers. It’s a no-brainer to figure out who the landlord is going to rent to.
Byron – I have to assume you have been living in a rock for the past couple of years not to realise how competitive the rental market is at the moment.
Cate, you’re a very brave woman – not only to endure the situation you are currently in but to put up with all these ignorant, flippant statements from uneducated close-minded morons.
Jodie Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
I feel 4 any children being raised in homeless conditions n hope they are not subjected 2 it 4 long especially considering even shelters cant help in these circumstances but sorry 2 say Lauren i agree with some of Byron”s comments and as 4 your comment,i am well educated,hold certificates and a Diploma and am open minded and ive lived in alot of properties different sizes, different prices. With pets, without. With children, without. With a job, without.ETC The only thing that You dont see listed without is RENT. I ALWAYS paid and if this family receives government help and still uses the rent 4 anything other than that then the same thing will happen, they”ll be evicted.
As 4 the job situation i just hope the parents are broadening themselves 2 any job perspective anything is better than nothing. I am in a fantastic job right now that doesnt realte 2 any of my Trained skills and qualifications, and i started as a casual and am progressing along well after 2 yrs
Corlz Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 12:57 am
“”"”Are you kidding? You pay $400 a week for a camper trailer? Rent a house. I understand that you’re in a difficult situation, but choosing to live in a caravan park doesn’t help. I refuse to believe that you cannot find a rental property, even a small one.”"”
I agree Brian, and i would move to somewhere where the rental demand wasnt so high….. However, i can also see how hard it must be to be accepted into a rental property (its not that there not out there). I know when i had my investment property, if i had 2 applications on it, one from a couple with good jobs, or one from an unemployed couple with 9 kids, i know id be choosing the 2 childless employed people, thats just the way it works.
Catherine – Your children are beautiful. So beautiful. My heart breaks for you and the situation you and your family find yourself in. I am going to email you to see if there is anything further I can do to help.
Best Wishes,
Julie
Julie´s last blog ..‘She Listened To Her Heart’ Giveaway
Gosh I had no idea things were so bad…my thoughts are with you xx
Cate Lawrence´s last blog ..Handmade help recipe book giveaway!
Cate, we are all not as bad as you think.
I am sorry that your family, including your beloved husband, have been treated so deplorably. I am ashamed of such behaviour.
I am personal in awe of any large family. You in particular seem like an awesome person, a loving mother and a devoted wife.
Please let us know how we can help. I am in Sydney, I am a loss as to what I can do. Unlike you, I am not in the habit of getting out and helping..
For now, I wish you the best and I will pray for you, your family and others like you <3
rudd last night or sometime this week admitted the labor government has failed the homeless in australia and more people are becoming homeless/sleeping on the streets and other places.
the real estate property manager should be reported to the reiq so they know what he did to you/why you were forced to leave your home and the manager/owner of the realestate franchise should be forced to find you a home asap. i know finding something for 11 is hard – i know because a friend has 5 kids and 6th on the way.
good luck with it. hope you get a reply from the pm and qld premier but please don’t hold your breath from either – anna is on holidays and paul lucas is busy doing her job and healh minister’s job.
Just go to both the PMs website and Anna Bligh’s website, cut and past Cate’s message into the respective contact emails and that’s it.
Cassy
This blog is doing the twitter rounds now – KRudd should see it shortly if enough people send it to him… Fingers crossed for a happy outcome for you all. Peace.
Time for action @KevinRuddPM
you are a BRILLIANT example of an upstanding and selfless contributor to society. your kids are blessed to have you as their role model. i am praying and thinking of how else i can act on your behalf.
Catherine. Don’t you ever feel bad for exercising your choice in having a large family. People exercise various choices everyday and you should not be judged for doing something that is a little different to the mainstream. I feel that if you did not have the love and commitment to your large fmaily, things would have been far worse for you because you would not feel as motivated to get out of your situation. I hope and pray that you will have a solution to your dilemma ASAP and will join in calling this entry to the attention of the relevant parties.
I apologise if that came off as me accusing you of inaction. It wasn’t. There are towns all over the country with scores of vacant properties that nobody wants to rent. I know this because I’ve visited a number of them through work.
The people I know that have gotten themselves out of similar situations (albeit none of them with nine children) have all had to move to either regional centres, or tiny towns outside regional centres, and have committed to a 2-3 hour commute to work. I don’t know if that’s practical for you, but there it is.
I hope everything works out for you.
Karen Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
That’s a tough choice. Tents near schools and existing support structures for special needs kids or starting again in a rental in a new town and a one parent essentially ‘absent’ with commuting….what would you choose, Byron?
I think you might find that there are laws which govern the number of people who can share a specific number of bedrooms. This is probably a big part of the reason why Cate has been unable to find a rental property as 5+ bedroom houses are few and far between.
As far as pointing out how unfair it is that the government jumps through hoops for Ferguson but fail to raise to the occasion to help a family find accommodation. Firstly, I’m sorry you fail to see the irony. This so called “man”, Ferguson, is a blight on society but authorities, regardless of department, go out of their way to find him a home while ignoring families with children who are guilty of nothing barring bad circumstance. You don’t think that’s a little…wrong, for want of a better word?
Hey Cate, hope this gets you action, I really do. I too used to have a different view of homeless, wondering how it happens to people. But now I get it just does. Shitty things happen to good, great and wonderful people every day of the week. Sometimes a culmination of all of these things brings you to a situation that no one would have imagined possible.
I get your worries about your beautiful boys who have their own way of forging through life and how absolutely terrified they must be.
All you need here guys is a leg up so to speak. I’ve seen Housing Commission houses lay vacant for eons whilst the departmetn get their shit together putting needy families in there. I’ve seen them used by individuals after all their families have left home and therefore, inappropriately used. The housing department needs to prioritise and help you guys out. You are not asking for something for nothing, just a breif interlude to give you guys a break and think straight. I really hope it comes together for you guys. I too, will email this along.
Hugs – Bern
Bernadette Morley´s last blog ..BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER
Bernadette Morley Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
“We are not perfect – but I am happy to be judged by anyone who is.” Plus this sentence is the most perfect I’ve ever read x
Bernadette Morley´s last blog ..BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER
Hi Cate,
I really feel for you and your family and hope your situation improves immediately. It would certainly be a great PR opportunity for a local estate agent or landlord to step up and help you out. I’m sure it would at least get covered by the major QLD newspapers and perhaps TV stations. Anyone needing good PR?…..
Hi Cate,
Your story has really touched me and thank you for sharing it with us. Until I read it just now I had similar thoughts about the homeless situation in Australia. Thank you for opening my eyes to it.
You and your family will be in my thoughts and my prayers and I will be sharing your story with my friends and colleagues in the hope that this will help bring awareness to your plight. Your beautiful family do not deserve humiliation or to live like this. It is so disappointing that like you say, our government has no provision for ordinary Australians who have hardships. I hope if anything good comes out of your awful experience, that you can help your families and others in your situation.
There’s nothing I could say Cate, that could say this any better than how you have put it. I have emailed, and twittered both Anna Bligh and Kevin Rudd, through numerous government websites, and implored them both to read your blog post and to consider your family as they go to sleep tonight in their cosy, warm, dry beds. I only hope that this concerted effort from all of your followers and supporters will result in some kind of positive action for you guys.
Tanya Love´s last blog ..Ankle Biters is for Sale, well, for GIVE AWAY, actually.
Dear Cate,
I have seen your Twitter feed for weeks now, and I am so astounded that it has come to this. You are obviously a family that is happy to make concessions (share beds, put health first) and it is such a shame that policy makers cannot make the same concessions.
I think this should make the rounds to real estates as well – if I can have a home with five animals, surely you can have a home with children!!
Australia – put on your listening ears and help this family out!!!
This just broke my heart!
Cheryl Hampton´s last blog ..Shoe Love… Is True Love!
Good luck, Catherine. Your children look like amazing people, I hope you find suitable accommodation soon.
Dear Cate
I have emailed QLD housing & Kevin Rudd to add my humble voice, perhaps if enough people add their voices – a lone voice will become a mighty roar and someone will finally listen.
I wish that there was a magical solution and all I had to do was wave a wand but sadly I can’t.
I will highlight this with friends and family and who knows what may come of it
Good luck and keep strong
Regards Kerri Baillie
Dear Catherine,
I’m so sorry to hear about your situation, and also thankful that you have shared your story. I’m a Canadian, and I had no idea that this situation in Australia with housing was so bad. I have sent a copy of this to the premier and prime minister, and I hope that someone will help you and soon! I will be thinking and praying for you and your beautiful family.
Take care,
Krista
I so hope something changes for you. I will be praying for you, your husband and you’re 9 lovely children.
This is just not okay! You can have as many federally funded children as you like. We need more people in our population. They will grow up, they will pay taxes.
As for the rental crisis I feel for you. We were forced out of where we were living after 6 months as the landlord sold the house. We went 5 months without work and it was so hard. We did that with two healthy kids, My heart breaks to see what you are going though. It is horrible that they can do this.
Have you considered seperating from your husband as hard as it is emotionally, by the books you would both be entitled to a house each hopefully close by until something came up. You could also get quite alot of government support. Obviously the second house would just be for going home to sleep you could all still live together in the real sense. It is so so very heart breaking. When something suitalbe came up for the whole family you could move back again. Your kids need a home and I am so not voting for Anna Bligh ever. what hotels in the area have you approached for compassion? At least to take the little and sick ones to. Some of the big chains have rooms spare all the time and if you were willing to pay the $400 a week they might accept that. It goes good on their tax to be charatable.
Good luck to you all, May this blog and your bravery lead you to what your family needs.
xxoo
Nicole Carr´s last blog ..Merry Christmas
Cate, I’ve been trying to think of the right words since I read this over 24 hours ago. I have seen this story unfold over the last month or two, but reading it all one page really hit hard and it is heartbreaking. I know that it can’t have been easy for you to write this letter and publish it for the world to see, knowing that it would make you vulnerable to the judgment of others. I applaud you for doing it despite that – not only for the sake of your own family, but for the thousands of other people and families in similar situations.
I hope that you are able to find the assistance that you need to get back on your feet and that it happens very soon. It is completely unacceptable for this kind of thing to be happening in Australia in 2010.
I also hope that it helps you to know that there are many people out there who are thinking of you guys through this difficult time.
Kirrily´s last blog ..Hello! I am still alive!
HI Cate,
Just listened to your interview – you were so brave to go on – good for you!
For those criticising Cate please at least get your facts straight! Just heard Ben Fordham read out one comment about why Cate kept having children. Thing is if you listen the youngest child is 3 – their problems didn’t really start until a few months ago, worsened by the Global Financial Crisis – I mean come on, Cate’s a great person trying to change the world, but even that’s beyond her control!
Something good will turn up Cate very soon, I’m sure.
Hugs to all of you!
Hi Cate & family
I wish you all the love luck & happiness for the future. I am in England and am spreading your story to all my friends and family so they can send out thoughts of hope to you all. Your kids look amazing and they will grow up with great roll models in you and your husband. I feel you are about to change some things in the way your government deal with homeless people.
Brightest blessings to you all xx
I am horrified that this can happen in our affluent society. I have contacted Ms Bligh and Mr Rudd as well.
I will forward this link to all my friends and hopefully the power of the people will get you the assistance you need.
Emiy, not causing a strain on Medicare is something to be very proud of. You clearly have very little understanding of how the health care system works. I have had my four children as a private patient in public hospitals. The hospitals benefit from private insurance funding. Hospitals and the health care system are seriously under-funded. Are you not aware of lengthy waiting times for surgery? Are you not aware of emergency patients being forced to wait in corridors because there are no beds available? Are you not aware of cancer sufferers having to travel hundreds of kilometres for treatment because there is no money for adequate staffing and equipment at local hospitals?
Please educate yourself before making a comment. If you’re sick, you’re sick but if you can pay for it, you should so that those who can’t benefit.
Just sent your letter to both the PM and Anna Bligh.
I hope things work out for you Cate.
Jessica, VIC´s last blog ..What lies ahead for me in 2010?
As a mother of a large family I am so tired of people saying you shouldn’t have kids if you can’t afford them. On that basis nobody should have children because nobody can predict the future. As in Cate’s case, you can be affluent one day and poor the next. Spouses die, businesses fold – it CAN happen to anybody. The system is there to support those people who fall on hard times. I live in a socially and economically poor area of Sydney. I am disgusted that the Bolt family is living in these conditions while generations of families in this area are given handouts and comfortable homes over a lifetime because they are too lazy to work.
How I wish I was in a position to do something more than make your situation known. And I will light a candle for your and your lovely family in hope that options present themselves soon.
Jo Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
So true, the people behind us have 13 children aged 6 months to 20 years of age. Neither has worked ever. They were given a house as both came from housing commission families of non-working parents. Their older children had children young (15/16) and were given houses and have never worked at all. I doubt their children will ever work. If they can find those families homes to live in, surely they can look after a family such as yours, Cate. I wish you all the best, and have published this in a few places to raise awareness. I was homeless with 1 child, and had the same views you did before becoming homeless. I cannot imagine what it would be like with 9 children. At least I was able to live in the car for a while. Your children sound lovely, and they look so happy. I also have a daughter with Asperger’s Syndrome and OCD, so can totally understand the need for stability in such children. Luckily we were homeless when mine was only 1, well before any of those traits would become a huge issue. I think the work you have done is great, very rewarding, and great role modelling for all your children. Thank you for sharing your story and I only hope that those in power can do something for you. They found a 6 bedroom house for the family over the back of us after they were moved from another property due to destroying it, I find it disgraceful they haven’t found your family a house.
Jo Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 11:32 pm
I agree with Lauren, it CAN and DOES happen to all sorts of people. I found myself homeless but only for a short time. Being a single mother or having lots of children makes finding a rental property so much more difficult. Luckily, having just one, and the child only being 1 at the time, mean we could live in the car. I can relate to so many things, though. Before becoming homeless I thought the same way about homeless families. As the mother of a child with Asperger’s Syndrome and OCD, I can understand the need for stability. Luckily she was only 1 at the time, and that was 5 years ago now. Since then we’ve had stability. I also agree with what Lauren says about families who are given homes over a lifetime. The lady over the back from us has 13 children, all born to help her be able to not work and not for any other reason. They are not cared for, they are not being raised by their mother, they are left to their own devices while the mother watches Pay TV and plays on the internet and avoids work at all costs. The youngest is a baby, the oldest is 20. They moved in a few years back, the government found them a 6 bedroom home after they destroyed the last one they’d rented. They both came from non-working families in government housing, so were automatically given a house when they moved out and had the first of their children. The oldest children are now out of home and have kids, they started at 15/16 and went from year 10 to parenting. They were given a house by the government and will never work. I doubt their children will work. If families like that can have houses handed to them, and 6 bedroom homes to cater to that many children, then they really should do far more to find a house for a family who have never before relied on the government for help, and are a loving family. I hope this raises public awareness that not only drunken bums or drug addicts become homeless, which is what I used to think as well, and I hope someone rents you a house very soon. All the best, Jo.
Dear Cate,
I have written to both Rudd and Bligh on your behalf as well.
I wish I had something to say here that would help. But really its common sense. You need a home.
I am dismayed and disgusted by some of the things said on here.
I am so sad to see that aussies are becoming cold hearted unempathetic twats.
I will keep writing and keep reading to see what happens.
I am sending you all my understanding and want you to know that some of us are not heartless.
xoxoxox
Wow just wow! Byron you obviously havn’t a clue what a strain financially, emotionally, mentally and physically it is to have a child with special needs. Unfortunately no one chooses to have a child with Autism or the likes so there for there really isn’t much choice in where you should live if you want them to get the help they need and be supported. I don’t know what I would do If I had to move away from my family and the facilities to help my Autistic child. Byron I think you need to find Emerald City and see if the wizard can make you a heart…
My heart breaks for you Cate. While I am a South African and have seen millions of our people in this similar situation because of the colour of their skins, the plight of a family in a situation such as yours in an affluent country, deserves the highest priority.
Congratulations on your excellent letter to the Prime Minister (my dad always used to say “go straight to the top”).
May your situation be relieved as soon as absolutely possible.
My love to you and yours and may 2010 be a huuuuge amount better.
Dear Cate,
Thanks for sharing your story, your family is beautiful. I too like others am amazed at some of the ill informed and judgemental comments on here.
I have also been in a situation where I was faced with homelessness (I have been working since I was 16 and through the GFC lost my job). I had 1 child and another one on the way. I was fortunate that my sister was able to take us in.
I follow you on Twitter and your blog and think you are truly amazing.
Wishing you all the best, I hope things turn around and they finally wake up and start listening and take action.
xx
I have to say, some of the comments on here amaze me. It is unbelievable to me that people can be so judgemental when they have never ‘walked in the shoes’.
I would like to believe that anyone who has read Cate’s recent Blog has actually gone back to the beginning and read the whole thing, from day 1.
If you did, you would see an incredible, selfless, honest, articulate, intelligent perfectionist! THAT is Cate!
Once you have seen that, it would be weird to suggest that she separate from her husband, whom is the only thing keeping her afloat at the moment. Aside from the fact that it would be fraudulent and that is something Cate is NOT……. I do understand that it would probably ease their situation immediately, if they took 1/2 the children each, but really, at what emotional cost on the family?
I am astounded that some ‘wealthy entrepreneur hasn’t stepped forward to supply a house yet?? Great PR!!
Anyone really, that was purchasing an investment property, and could do with the tax off-set could rent a house to Cate…… The home she lived in was so immaculate, you would never have believed children lived there….. THAT is Cate! The perfectionist!! As she says, she can afford to rent a house, she just can’t find one.
I support Cate as best I can in the situation I am in, If I had the equity, I’d be buying an investment property in Qld – Eumundi area myself!!
Thank you for sharing your story and bringing this to people’s attention. There are so many stories to be shared about the housing and homelessness crisis in communities right across Australia, and the rental market and the prejudices of land lords and real estate agents are a big part of this story. Good luck to you and your family.
I am wondering if perhaps Cate could give a clearer indication of just what is needed or what they are willing to accept for the short term.
The support (emotional) is wonderful, however does not appear to have had any tangible effect on the problem of their homelessness.
Writing to politicians en masse is good but is unlikely to bring about any immediate change in the Bolts circumstances (well if it hasn’t yet it is unlikely to IMO) -that’s not to say it won’t have the potential to make a difference in the future.
There seems to be an awful lot of “read this” and “please support” but from what I can glean there have been NO offers of a practical nature (except the couple of people who have offered their backyards) . What response (if any) from the 9 news story?
As someone else said, maybe someone can be found who could lend a camper or a caravan or someone with a few acres and/or a shed to get out of the rain etc..
..maybe it needs to be specifically asked for.
Also, with the rental market being like it is, a strategy to enhance the chance of getting a rental..offering to pay several months rent in advance or above what the asking rent is…I think I read somewhere that money is not necessarily the issue, but if it was, perhaps some sort of collection to get a lump sum together.
Concentrating on finding someone in the realestate business who will give you a sympathetic ear..with the amount of networking going on on twitter should be able to find someone..a friend ..or friend of a friend..relation of a friend…someone..who would be in a position to go into bat for you.
While I can see the plight of all homeless people is part of the media campaign, I think perhaps more focus in the short term, on ways of getting accommodation, is warranted.
Also, just on the magazine that wants an exclusive- I see nothing wrong with that- they are offering to help but also are making a good business decision. Grab it with both hands and get your message across.
Oops..went on a bit but really just wanted to ask for clarification..everyone is being asked to help or support and I don’t think there is a clear picture of just what people can do.
Hi Barbara, your comments are welcome and valid. Cate is not willing to accept donations unless they are run through a 3rd party trust. We are talking to a few institutions about what is involved in this as we speak. Ultimately if we can help Cate compete in the private market through advance rental payments, it might get them the time they need to get back on their feet. It takes time and Cate’s story has only just started to gain momentum over the past few days. Just getting as many people talking about it as possible is a start because eventually, someone will talk to the right person and get a result. I will post back here if we are successful in getting a national appeal up and then provide details on how to donate. Meantime, please keep donating your energy and passion! Those are some of the most valuable gifts you can give.
I’m confused do they have 7 kids at home of 9? one newspapers pointed out 7( I assume the dads kids live with their mum). Would this be a slightly easier number to house? A 3 bed with mum and dad ine one room. the girl in one room the 18 year old in another and 2 bunks in the third. Ricks boys could sleep on a sofa bed when visiting?
Cate Reply:
January 12th, 2010 at 6:16 am
The departments guidelines for 5 bedrooms is based on the 7 children that live with us permanently. We have had all 9 here for the last month. They do take them into account, but they aren’t the difference between a 4 and 5 bedroom house.
Cate´s last blog ..How’s the Serenity?