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A pregnant mother and her young children were forced to live in a car for months as the cost of living crisis bites in ex-Western Australian premier Mark McGowan’s former seat.
For eight months a Ford Territory has been home for Cassandra, her partner and their boys aged one and five.
“It’s been extremely cold,” she said.
“There were times where our car battery actually would die because we’d have to use it to heat trying to keep all of us from getting sick,” she said.
Rent hikes left the family homeless since December just as Cassandra learned she was pregnant.
“We weren’t able to afford food that we really needed to keep ourselves healthy and strong, so that made it very difficult for us,” she said.
“There were times when me and my partner would miss out to make sure our kids had what they needed.”
The family is grateful for the support of the local Salvation Army.
The charity has seen homelessness rise 250 per cent In Rockingham alone this year, while emergency relief has increased 300 per cent since November.
“It’s obviously heartbreaking to see,” Chelsea Wilson from the organisation said.
“Currently we are seeing we are at capacity for what we can provide and we really do need to be resourced further.”
The statistics were highlighted by candidates in the Rockingham by-election who claim McGowan ignored local issues during his time as premier.
“We need significant investment in Rockingham to help our families,” independent candidate Hayley Edwards said.
“People are dissatisfied with the WA Labor government and they’re looking for a change,” Greens candidate Madeleine De Jong said.
“The people of Rockingham are telling me that enough is enough, they feel ignored by the Labor government,” Liberal candidate Peter Hudson said.
Labor’s candidate to replace the former premier, meanwhile, was keen to fly the flag for the government.
“It’s great to talk about Labor’s strong record of delivering relief, although there’s always more that can be done,” Labor candidate Magenta Marshall said.
The family said it has finally secured a home and hopes the new member for Rockingham delivers support for social services.
