TURNING HOMELESSNESS INTO HOPE
Juliet Potter is on a mission to prevent women ’ s homelessness through education and renovating caravans for transitional housing .
hen single mother Juliet Potter first
W bought a used caravan that she
found on Facebook , she was excited at the prospect of slowly renovating her purchase in order to provide an extra home for her family and friends over the weekends and holiday breaks .
Yet what eventua ted has fast become a solution for the epidemic of homelessness currently facing women across Australia .
Enter White Caravan , an initiative that will see renovated ca ravans accessed as transitional hou sing by women and children .
White Caravan is a unique initiative that facilitates the renovation and restoration of caravans to provide much needed respite to women who require transitional housing .
The organisation provides education , conversation , marketing solutions and early intervention and exit strategies for women to prevent homelessness and financial hardship across Australia .
White Caravan also works alongside a multitude of existing community-based partners , support services and sponsors to educate Australian women around financial independence and empowerment and the prevention of financial abuse and homelessness . White Caravan also provides strategy , mentorship and guidance along with respite accommodation .
Women are more likely to be at risk of homelessness due to factors such as financial disadvantage , the demands of motherhood , employment in casual and lower paid jobs , lower levels of superannuation and savings , and having suffered domestic and / or financial abuse . Combined with the rising cost of a new home and rental accommodation , it ’ s little wonder women are fast-becoming the new face of homelessness in Australia .
Unlike many other services that work in the housing crisis sector , White Caravan works firmly within the area of prevention . This includes education of the younger generation to share the message of empowerment by maintaining financial independence when embarking on a relationship , particularly those that include children . Taking responsibly for , and control of , your individual finances within a partnership is something many women forgo , yet is critical in the preservation of life choices and helping to eliminate financial abuse and ultimately , homelessness .
White Caravan guide and support women within the creation of separation strategies post-separation and divorce , to help lay the required foundations in transitioning into a secure , happier life with both confidence and clarity .
Finally , White Caravan also provides temporary housing options by way of renovated caravans to allow respite , peace and healing for women and children while they transition into a new , exciting and positive future .
To learn more , including how to donate an unused caravan , go to www . whitecaravan . org . au
OH ! MAGAZINE ( SEPTEMBER 2018 ) 25