Vicki and Jeff's story

 At 59 years old, Vicki never thought she and her 68 year old husband Jeff would be homeless. But a relationship breakdown with her son forced Vicki, Jeff and their two dogs onto the street without a day's notice and with nowhere to go - except their car.

“I never in my life thought I’d live in my car. I thought we’d always have a home. Somewhere to belong, somewhere for the dogs to run around,” says Vicki.

Vicki and Jeff were living with Vicki’s son who suffered from multiple debilitating illnesses that affected his physical and mental health. “We had to leave after a particularly bad fight…we couldn’t go back,” says Vicki.

They stayed with friends for a night or two. But not wanting to be a burden on anyone, they spent the next five months living in their car after being rejected from rental after rental.

“You try to stay positive. But there were a lot of times when you laid there and cried at night because you didn’t know what you were going to do the next day or what you’d eat or what the weather would be like,” says Vicki.

Vicki and Jeff parked at service stations on the side of the freeway and by the beach—places they could let the dogs exercise. As the weeks went on, their health started to deteriorate and the weather started to turn. “We began to worry at that point…my osteoarthritis and diabetes meant that sometimes I couldn’t even get in and out of the car without excruciating pain,” says Vicki.

As if life on the street wasn’t tough enough, Vicki’s life really spiralled when her son died unexpectedly from medical complications, just as they were starting to rebuild their relationship. “That just rocked me. It still does to this day.”

The Salvation Army found Vicki and Jeff (and the two dogs) a transitional house just before winter. “When they gave us the address Jeff and I would drive past and have a look and peep through the window…it was really exciting. It’s so good to have somewhere for the dogs to run around.”

For the next year, Vicki and Jeff met with Salvos caseworker Sharon. “She cared for us and basically nurtured us back,” says Vicki. This was especially needed after the passing of Vicki’s son and then the tragic passing of her brother.

“Sharon was a lifeline,” says Vicki. “She was so caring with our problems. She gave us a new mattress, helped us get glasses and me new dentures. They even helped with vet care for the dogs.”

In June this year, Vicki and Jeff were approved for their ‘forever’ home. To you, our faithful supporters, Vicki has this message:

“Thank you. Without you we don’t know where we’d be. For a while we just felt like people who were living in a car because no one cared. We feel worthy now. The help we were given was so personal…you could tell that the Salvos really cared.”

Your support helps transform the lives of people like Vicki and Jeff every day.