Community
22 March, 2024
Community rallies
FINALLY there may be light at the end of a long and dark tunnel for Doug Bowen and his young family who, for the last four years, have fought for a place to call home.
And it’s only thanks to the generosity of a Warrnambool local – who has kindly offered their now-vacant rental property – that the trio is now looking forward to moving out of a cramped motel room and into their new home.
To say the last few years have been tough for Doug, eight year-old Nova (who has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair) and seven year-old Archie is an understatement.
For almost four years Doug has anxiously waited on the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s list for ‘emergency accommodation.’
In 2019 Doug’s partner Corrie passed away, leaving him to not only grieve but also take care of their two young children.
Nova’s needs also meant Doug had to give up his job and become her full-time carer.
For more than 18 months he fought to retain their family home in Colac but he lost that battle and became reliant on friends and family for accommodation.
“I’m very independent and to find myself having to ask for help was gut-wrenching and pretty soul destroying,” Doug said.
“And because I chose to leave work to look after the kids I wasn’t entitled to any benefits for six months, which was pretty rough.
“It was even suggested I place my children in care but that was never going to be an option for me; they are my absolute world, my first priority and nothing will keep us apart.”
Doug was encouraged to apply for government housing and contact the Salvation Army for support.
He was placed on the waiting list and told it would be “around 10 months” before a house would become available.
Four years on, he is still waiting.
“I’m well aware of the housing crisis but to be told there would be a maximum wait time of about 10 months and here we are today, almost four years later, and still nothing, well that’s just devastating,” Doug said.
“We moved from Colac to Warrnambool for a fresh start, for both the kids and for me. Initially we stayed with a friend but I don’t want to overstay our welcome so we moved to this motel at the start of the year.”
Living in a motel room has certainly had its challenges.
With a large wheelchair to manoeuvre in an extremely confined space, and very limited cooking facilities, the family has daily hurdles.
“I try to keep upbeat for the sake of the kids but honestly it’s been a pretty rough ride for us all.”
With just days left in the motel, and desperate to find out his place on the department’s ‘priority wait list’ Doug spoke with Member for South West Coast, Roma Britnell.
“At that time I honestly didn’t know where else to go so I thought I had nothing to lose,” Doug said.
“Looking back that was one of the best decisions I’ve made so far; Roma has been amazing. And I know she hasn’t helped us for any political gain, she has been sincere and genuine and we can’t thank her enough.”
From that time on, Doug has been inundated by support from the Warrnambool community and for that he could not be more thankful.
“Roma’s office has been flooded with offers of help; people have even offered to pay some of the motel fees which is just amazing. I’m grateful beyond words.”
In a statement issued late last week, Ms Britnell confirmed a generous local family had offered Doug, Nova and Archie an ‘interim roof over their head.’
“I know the local community will be as relieved as me that the Bowen family will now be able to move from their motel room into temporary accommodation and have some level of normality in their daily life,” Ms Britnell said.
“I thank the kind locals who have gone above and beyond to generously support this family and also those who helped fund the family’s stay in a motel for several weeks.
“Now Doug will no longer have to lift Nova without lifting aides in a cramped motel bathroom, risking injury to his back. He will also be able to do simple things like prepare nutritious foods in a kitchen.”
Ms Britnell said this was an example of “everything that is good about country communities.”
“When I began advocating for this family I was so impressed by how quickly the community banded together with me to step in when the government has failed this family,” he said.
“This act does not absolve the government and Housing Minister of their responsibilities to support our community’s most vulnerable, including the Bowen’s, with social housing.”
After four years of stress and uncertainty on the public housing wait list, Doug has learnt there is no suitable available housing on the government’s books in Warrnambool for a person like Nova in a wheelchair – and no immediate plans to build any.
“This is a grim indication of just how long a family like the Bowen’s can expect to be on the public housing waiting list,” Ms Britnell said.
“The Bowen family need the security of ongoing, affordable, rent-controlled housing that only a government home can provide.
“While Doug and his children have been given a temporary retrieve, I know they’re not the only family doing it tough out there and the housing crisis is getting worse.”
Ms Britnell has vowed to continue to pressure the state government so that families like the Bowen’s can have the “basic necessity of an affordable roof over their heads.”
Doug, Nova and Archie are hoping to move into their new temporary home in time for Easter.
