A 21-year-old Aussie bloke has taken to social media to ask for help after unexpectedly becoming homeless.
Bailey Carville-Haley was working as a bricklayer when he decided to move towns with his girlfriend for a fresh start.
Mr Carville-Haley quit his job and attempted to drive from Perth to Broken Hill in regional NSW with his partner.
“We both wanted a fresh new canvas to start on. Save some money and then yeah get our own place in Queensland or Adelaide, and figure out what we wanted to do,” he told news.com.au.
Everything went downhill quickly.
The 21-year-old sold his own car to help fix up his girlfriend’s car so that it could manage the 24-hour plus drive. But, halfway through the trip, the vehicle broke down, costing over $1600 to have it fixed.
The couple ended up staying in a hotel for over eight days, which drained Mr. Carville-Haley’s savings.
When they finally arrived in Broken Hill, where they were staying with her family, the couple broke up within nine hours of arriving.
“I had to leave there,” he said.
Mr Carville-Haley then went and stayed at a hotel, but pretty quickly he was down to his last $13 and with no idea what else to do, he took to social media.
“My name is Bailey and this is the last night I can afford this hotel,” he said.
“I’m currently homeless so if you’re someone anywhere in Australia and can give me a place to stay until I get back on my feet. I’d greatly appreciate it.”
The tradie has also set up a GoFundMe to get back on track. He said he “didn’t want to,” but people kept saying they’d make one for him.
“I feel horrible getting money off people,” he said.
“I was simply asking people for a place until I could get back on my feet.”
The page has now raised over $2500, but the 21-year-old pointed out he’d need even more just for rental bond and money to survive while he finds a job.
“Going homeless was completely out of my control and definitely unexpected. I don’t expect much, so please don’t go out of your way to help me out too much,” he wrote.
The 21-year-old’s homeless admission is startling but for most Aussies, it doesn’t take much to go wrong for them to be in serious financial struggle.
Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker revealed more than 42 per cent of Aussies are living pay cheque to pay cheque.
The research found that one in 10 people live day to day, only able to make ends meet for a week or less if they become unemployed.
Half of Australians could live off their savings for three months or more if they suddenly became jobless.
This is because 37 per cent of Australians admit they have less than $1000 in their bank accounts.
Of those who have less than $1000 on hand, the average bank balance is just $131.
The bricklayer said, “mentally I’m not good” after going from having secure employment and a home in Perth to feeling stranded in New South Wales.
He also can’t afford to return to Perth, and even if he could, he doesn’t have the kind of relationship with close family where he could move in.
“I could go back to Perth but I’ve got nowhere to go,” he said.
“It is scary you don’t know if you’re going to have a roof over your head the next day.”
Mr Carville-Haley said for the most part he has been touched by the kind response online, with one man even going so far as to offer him farm work. But there have also been some “nasty” comments that have only increased his anxiety.
Among the comments of offering him a place to stay or offering their empathy, others have taken issue with him asking for help on social media.
One person wrote, “If he can afford to be on social media, he can afford to get somewhere,” adding that she isn’t judgmental, but far too many people are looking for “handouts” when others have to work hard for the same thing.
“Bailey that is not how life works,” another wrote.
“If you can afford your phone bill and a smart phone, you can afford a place,” one argued.
Mr Carville-Haley said the negative comments are hurtful because he needs help and “didn’t know what to do.”
Thankfully, the 21-year-old has contacted his grandparents and plans to stay until Friday. Then, he plans to do farm work for the man who reached out to him on social media.
He is grateful for the employment, but it stings. He planned to come to Broken Hill and work towards his future, and is now left just trying to make ends meet.
“I wanted to be a police officer, and now I’ll be farming,” he said.
Despite his bad fortune, Mr Carville-Haley said it was “very nice” to see the number of strangers supporting him.
