Perth mum is forced to live in a car with her six-year-old child as housing crisis grips the nation

A heartbreaking photo shows the grim reality of Australia’s housing crisis: a six-year-old boy forced to sleep in a ute for months, with his favorite toys piled in his lap.

Mother-of-one Mackay, 38, from Perth, spent two years on the couch with relatives after escaping a bad relationship.

She and her son Charlie ended up having no choice but to sleep in her car after finding out she couldn’t get a rental house due to fierce competition and her lack of credit and rental history.

The situation became so desperate that Mackay made a plea on a Mandurah community Facebook page and asked for help.

Claire Orange, a therapist and co-founder of the cybersecurity program Digii Social, saw the post — and opened her home to the couple.

“I immediately recognized Charlie’s school uniform from a photo Mackay posted and contacted the school to understand their situation,” Ms Orange said.

“I found out that a rental house would be available for them within a month and offered to stay with me while they waited.”

Mackay has been described as a ‘remarkable mother’ who consistently put her son Charlie’s needs (left and right) first and made sure he was happy and healthy despite being homeless

Ms Orange, herself a mother of four, described Mackay as a “remarkable” mother who consistently put her son first.

“I admire her immensely for her steadfastness and resilience,” said Ms. Orange.

“I can’t give this woman any more credit. She took exceptionally good care of her son and made sure she did everything she could to keep him stable, healthy and clean.

‘To school with him every day, cooking for him, weather permitting, setting up her little summer tent so they could sleep lying down instead of bundled up.

“She’s a remarkable, ferocious mother who consistently puts her child’s needs first.”

Ms Orange has since started a GoFundMe page to help Mackay and Charlie get back on their feet – with the struggling family ‘about’ moving into social housing.

Therapist and co-founder of cybersecurity program Digii Social Claire Orange (right) opened her home to Mackay (left) and Charlie (bottom left) until they were offered housing. Ms. Orange has since started a GoFundMe page to help the couple get back on their feet

The money will be used to help Mackay and Charlie buy furniture and white goods for their home.

“Mackay and Charlie have been part of our family for the past month – and what a wonderful gift they were,” Ms. Orange wrote on the GoFundMe page.

“And now that a house is available, I’d like to give Mackay and Charlie enough money to start their new life together.”

Australia is facing a major housing crisis with rents skyrocketing as vacancy rates fall.

SQM Research revealed that rental vacancy rates fell to the lowest rate in the country since 2006 – 0.9 percent in August.

The total number of vacant rental properties across Australia was 32,948 homes, down from 36,741 in July.

The national vacancy rate for rental housing across the country fell to 0.9 percent in August, triggering a spike in homelessness in Australia (photo, homeless and displaced people sheltering in tents)

Ms Orange said vulnerable women are “taking insurmountable risks” seeking shelter and opening her home was nothing more than “being a good person.”

She has urged anyone with a spare room or space in their home to give people like Mackay and Charlie a chance at a normal life and the protection that a roof over your head offers.

“It would have been a no-brainer to make room in our house for this little family – whatever we have, we have more than this little family and we share our home while they waited for theirs to have their way.

“There’s nothing wonderful or great about what I’ve done. Making someone feel safe and helping them solve problems in different aspects of her life is enough.

“I’ve been able to help Mackay sort out paperwork and arrange housing—something she had no cognitive space for when she was thinking about survival.”

The fund has received 35 donations totaling $2,565 and hopes to raise $10,000.

Many tenants, nowhere to stay: the rental crisis in Australia

SQM Research recently revealed that rental vacancy rates have fallen to the lowest rate in the country since 2006, reaching 0.9 percent in August.

The total number of vacant rental properties across Australia was 32,948 homes, down from 36,741 in July.

Vacancy in Sydney and Melbourne fell by 0.2 percent to 1.3 percent and 1.4 percent respectively.

Vacancy in Perth fell to 0.4 percent in August, while Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin and Hobart remained well below 1.0 percent.

SQM Research revealed that the total number of rental vacancies across Australia stood at 32,948 homes in August – a sharp drop from 36,741 in a month (pictured)

Vacancy in the Melbourne CBD rose slightly to 2.1 percent, while Sydney CBD and Brisbane CBD fell 3.1 percent and 1.8 percent respectively.

Vacancy has impacted rents, with all capital cities posting a 2.6 percent increase in rental costs – with rents up 20.1 percent across the country in the past 12 months.

The national median weekly rent for a home is recorded at $525 per week, with Sydney recording the highest weekly rent for a home at $845.

Units in Adelaide remain the best affordable rental options of all capitals at $376 per week.