Armed with a newborn and a toddler, Kylie* and her partner are about to be homeless. It’s the third time in as many years since moving to Walgett, where homelessness rates are the highest in the state. 

After finding no houses available in Port Macquarie, Kylie and her partner were drawn to Walgett with the promise of plenty of empty houses. They didn't know that very few of them were for rent. 

Two houses and two stints in her father-in-law's living room later, a house that was supposed to be a more permanent living situation for the family has become unavailable. 

“(I was) not even 24 hours of enjoying being a new mum again, and we got the phone call that the house we’re in has been bought,” Kylie said. 

It’s the third time that they’ve been without a home since 2020, but this time, the family of four won’t have the same living room to find shelter in like they have previously. 

“I’ve had an application with the Department of Communities and Justice from the last time we were homeless, and that’s gone nowhere. It’s been almost two years.”

The reality of the issue is only more frustrating for Kylie as she sees empty houses destroyed by a lack of tenancy. 

“One house was empty for ages, and then burnt down because nobody was there and young people think they can do whatever they want.”

“Where’s the security for your home? You’ve got a house sitting there for possibly years that doesn’t give you any money. It just makes no sense,” she said. 

Some local accommodation reserved for police, medical and teaching professionals also remain empty, another cause of frustration for locals struggling to find housing. 

In the meantime, Kylie has had the offer of a local office building to temporarily house her family, or a house that has no promise of longevity. 

“I don’t mind that it's short term, but I want something in writing and they’re not really willing to do that,” Kylie said. 

Kylie knows more people in the community who are facing the same challenge. 

“My partner works with a bloke that’s in exactly the same situation…they moved here and they’ve got two children as well…and they can’t find a house.”

“There’s so many stories about it. We have no real idea if we’re safe, or if we’ll have a roof over our head for the night.”

*Name has been changed for safety.