Charlotte Sapwell’s tiny home is sparking bigger ideas to make real change to Ballarat’s homeless crisis.
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City of Ballarat youth councillors had been exploring medium-term housing for the city’s young people in a sustainable youth housing hub until they learned about the $13,000 tiny home Charlotte crafted from a disused site office in her grandfather’s backyard.
Their recommendations to the City and community about the issue shifted.
A former youth councillor, Charlotte Sapwell’s perfect life crumbled in the space of two years. She found her self a young, single mum to two boys and sleeping on her parents’ couch. In April, her grandfather’s “tiny” idea and her determined do-it-yourself renovations started to capture national attention.
Youth councillor Hayley Ryan said homelessness was a complex issue and there was no one-size-fits-all solution, but greater awareness was a vital step.
“Homelessness is more than just not having a roof over your head. It can be couch surfing or when parents are split – unsure if mum’s was home or if dad’s was home,” Ms Ryan said.
“Youth council had been working on this before our terms, but we have changed (focus) a bit.”
The youth council presented their findings and recommendations to City of Ballarat deputy mayor Daniel Moloney and councillors Belinda Coates and Des Hudson in a public awareness session on Tuesday.
Charlotte Sapwell was so proud of the passion and earnest interest this year’s youth council had taken on tackling homelessness.
“I’d thought I’d always known about youth homelessness. I was a girl guide and did the sleep-outs,” Ms Sapwell said. “I never took precautionary measures. I always thought I’d be a stay-at-home mum...Help is about removing the stereotype of what it means to be homeless.”
Fellow councillor Mitchell Burgess said one key theme that really stuck was anyone could be three paychecks away from becoming homeless. He said this was why it was important to consider lots of options for what was viable and affordable to help.
Charlotte’s top tips to make housing a home
- “It’s got to be pretty. Find something individual and unique, like colours or a nice doona cover”
- “An organised kitchen”
- “Kmart and Bunnings is great, you can do so much for cheap”
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