PHOTO: Perth businesswoman and influencer Constance Hall
Perth Businesswoman Reveals Personal Impact of Housing Crisis
A Perth businesswoman and mum with more than a million online followers has revealed the effects the housing crisis is having on her own family.
Constance Hall’s Online Presence
‘Mumfluencer’ Constance Hall has amassed 1.3m Facebook followers and 370,000 on Instagram, sharing stories about her children, partner, and selling clothes and underwear.
Family Moves In
She shared on Facebook on Monday that her extended family has moved into her home alongside her husband Denim and kids.
Living Situation Explained
Perth businesswoman and influencer Constance Hall with her partner. Picture: Facebook
“Due to the relentless housing crisis Denz and I received the welcomed surprise of my cousin and her family in need of somewhere to stay,” Ms Hall wrote.
Generosity Highlighted
“Someone once said to me ‘while there is a roof over my head there is a roof over yours’. It was a really kind thing to say and I never forgot it.
“I can only hope that our home turns the lemons of life into lemonade for those who need it for the rest of our lives,” she posted.
Housing Crisis Context
WA shares a dubious honour with the Northern Territory; the only Australian states and territories where tenants can be evicted for no reason. Picture: NewsWire / Sharon Smith
Creating Space for Family
The post goes on to detail some handiwork done by Ms Hall’s partner to create more space for the growing family.
Renovation Details
“We had this old wagon sitting in the dirt driveway that I use as an office, and it just didn’t feel homely enough for a bedroom. A week ago, I told Denz that I figured out that the problem is that it’s just sitting there in the dirt, your feet get dirty and wet when you go into it, it has no electricity, etc., and it’s cold, etc.
“So within the week, he has moved the wagon around (with the help of my cousin’s partner) and reshaped the deck to make it fit in and sit on the side of the house. I’ve done what I love to do and redecorated it.
“And now everyone’s fighting over it.”
Community Response
The post sparked comments about the kindness shown to the family in need, and the eclectic home.
Financial Struggles
During the weekend Ms Hall shared with her 1.3m Facebook followers that with life and business expenses, she had to borrow this month’s mortgage repayment from her brothers.
Broader Housing Crisis in WA
The isolated capital of Western Australia is no isolated case in the housing crunch.
Expert Insights
This week, Anglicare WA chief executive Mark Glasson said people were waiting an average of 18 months on priority accommodation waitlists.
Economic Report
Commonwealth Bank’s latest quarterly economic report shows WA’s unemployment is lowest in the country, as the population has grown 3.3 per cent this year.
But that is underscored by the lowest rental vacancy rate in the country, of 0.4 per cent.
SOURCE: NEWS.COM.AU