Mother with spina bifida seeks work and housing as eviction fears grow

A 24-year-old woman living with spina bifida says she is desperate for paid work and a secure place to live as she raises three children on her own.

She is mother to a four-year-old, a two-year-old, and a three-month-old baby. She was born with the condition, which she linked to an injury her mother suffered while pregnant. Doctors operated on a growth along her spine soon after birth.

She described childhood and early adulthood as deeply difficult. She spent years in a shelter after her mother left when she was about four, and said she left that setting around age 19. Since then she has faced repeated judgment that she cannot manage motherhood or daily responsibilities on her own.

At times the family has relied on Food For The Poor for support. She said relationships have also been hard, including conflict after her first child and the departure of the father of her youngest baby, who she said is in Bali.

She has never held a job. She was told to register with a disability coordination service that could help place her in work suited to her needs. She believes roles with limited physical demands, such as security-related positions, might be possible, but said previous attempts through a training centre did not work out for her or others in similar situations.

Her housing situation is now precarious. She lives in a building she said is in poor condition and may soon be cleared or demolished. If officials order residents out, she does not know where she would go. She cannot return to a shelter without a backup plan, and said ties to her mother and sister offer little certainty.

Asked what assistance would help most, she pointed to employment and stability for her children. She does not have a bank account. When asked how the public could reach her, she said she had been told she would be contacted when arrangements are made.