Sarah Purcell, Adam Triffett and their seven children have been staying with relatives in Ravenswood after a fire caused $40,000 worth of damage to their George Town rental home last Thursday. 

Ms Purcell said the family were turned away from CatholicCare in Launceston when they went to them on Friday looking for emergency accommodation. 

“We were told because I had $400 that I was saving for rent, we weren’t eligible,” she said. 

“That was the worst day for us.

“The kids didn’t even have shoes and we were turned away.”

CatholicCare Tasmania’s General Manager Family and Community Services, Teresa Whyte, said the family had already chosen a different Tasmanian service provider to assist with their housing support needs, prior to being referred to CatholicCare Tasmania.

“CatholicCare Tasmania understands it is a stressful time for families and individuals who seek access to emergency accommodation,” she said.

“CatholicCare Tasmania makes every effort and exhausts all options when assisting people in need of accommodation.

“On rare occasions, some people may fall outside of the established brokerage guidelines for emergency accommodation due to income position or rental history.

“However every effort is made to find suitable short-term accommodation through the network of housing and accommodation service providers in Tasmania.”

Ms Purcell said she is concerned about how much school her oldest three children are missing. 

“If we didn’t have family to stay with we would be out on the street,” she said.

“Without having a home I don’t see myself getting the kids into school anytime soon.”

Ms Purcell said the family had only been living at the George Town rental for a month before the fire. 

They are now being assisted by AngliCare Tasmania.