Hope for a home inscribed on the roof of her caravan

Invercargill woman Jill Purvis lives in a caravan on a plot of land she bought using her...
Invercargill woman Jill Purvis lives in a caravan on a plot of land she bought using her retirement savings.PHOTO: LUISA GIRAO
An Invercargill woman who has spent most of her adult life without a proper home says the worst part is the feeling of not belonging anywhere.

Jill Purvis (59) has been "shifted" almost 30 times from state houses, hotels and even a car until she found a temporary solution to her homeless problem - a caravan that she can finally call home.

She is one of about 500 Invercargill residents who are thought not to be living in adequate housing.

"I'm part of a system that really doesn't work. I think it is very hard to look for a future and I've learned that in a hard way."

She said one of the worst things about the situation was losing the treasured personal possessions.

"All the precious things, the kid's gifts, the mementos. It is really expensive to rent storage."

In November last year, she used her KiwiSaver - saved after years working in home care - and bought a section for $15,000 where she could park her caravan.

Her low income was one of the biggest reasons she was not able to afford a house.

"I looked at my KiwiSaver money and thought the way it is going, I'm not going to make it to retirement. I thought it was better to use now, but did not have enough money to afford a house as well."

While a caravan was still not proper shelter, it gave her the feeling of belonging to something, she said.

Ms Purvis also said she now felt safer than in a state home - a problem that a lot of homeless women suffer.

She was not the only woman who felt that way - others preferred to be on the street rather than in state shelters, she said.

Southland Community Housing Group estimated in April that 500 people were homeless in Invercargill, including an increasing number of women aged 40-60.

Group member Dave Kennedy said Ms Purvis' story was similar to those of a lot of women, particuarly those on a low income.

"People assume that homelessness is people with drug addiction or personal issues. But more and more it's people that worked their whole lives and just have a little money and with the shortage of houses it makes it even harder."

In the roof of Ms Purvis' caravan, she wrote an inspirational quote: "When the world says give up, hope whispers ... try it one more time."

And this is the way she lives her days - even though she believes she will never be able to afford it, she still dreams to have her own home.

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