I live in Melbourne the most locked down city in the world. I’m 55 years of age, and have found it very difficult to get employment in Melbourne since lockdown, due to most job applications are now completed online, and most jobs here currently have in excess over 500 applicants, narrowing your opportunity to be successful in being selected for an interview.
I have applied for 700+ jobs and not received a single interview over the past 2 years. I was struggling and met a guy who offered for me to move in with him and share a unit at low rent, in Nov 2025 & on Christmas Day 2025 I was woken up by him, yelling and abusing me because he’d been up all night drinking red cask wine, feeling sorry for himself because he’s a single lonely man, and alcohol makes him a nasty drunk, as I found out the hard way.
I was left with no option to move out with nowhere to go, fractured my foot in the rush to leave the premises, and spent 2 days in hospital having my foot attended to. (At least I had a bed), and have been living in my car ever since. I am coming up to 5 weeks now. I did have a casual job but the employer (The Australian Tax Office) cut all casual shifts for 2 weeks starting 23rd Dec 2025 rendering me broke, but also ineligible for unemployment benefit, because I was still legally employed, even though there have been no available shifts for 2 weeks, and no income coming in.
I’ve exhausted all of my savings, my employer has had no accountability and has now advised that they will be reducing shifts to 3 x 5 hour shifts per week, not enough to live on. Rent in Melbourne has almost doubled in value over the last 5 years, houses are worth over $1million to buy & cost of living is through the roof.
All of these factors combined have rendered me homeless, and living out of the car, although I don’t even have the money to put fuel in the car. I’m in absolute dire straights, and even the crisis accommodation groups haven’t got any available places to stay, stating they’re fully booked out or don’t have the funding.
I’ve never been in such a dire situation and am asking for any generous donations to help me get my life back on track. I’m an ex-Bank Manager yet cannot secure employment (I believe due to age discrimination) even in the banks. I’m applying for alternate work but have not been able to secure an interview. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, as trying to remain positive is starting to wear thin, when I realise the absolute basket case the state of Victoria is in, as I try to determine what my future will be. Regards Paul Jerram