In what should have been her final months of peace and comfort, Tammie Maree Couchman faced a different battle altogether. The 49-year-old mother, diagnosed with terminal lung cancer that had spread to her brain, found herself fighting not just for her life, but for a roof over her head.
A Terminal Diagnosis Meets Housing Insecurity
While undergoing aggressive cancer treatment, Tammie received the devastating news that her rental property in Brisbane's northern suburbs was being sold. The subsequent eviction notice sent her on a desperate, months-long search for affordable accommodation in a city where rental vacancies hover near record lows.
"She was having chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and then having to go house hunting," recalled her daughter, Shanae. "It was absolutely exhausting for her."
The Impossible Search
Tammie's circumstances made her search particularly challenging:
- Limited to properties under $400 per week due to being on Centrelink payments
- Required ground-floor accommodation because treatment left her too weak for stairs
- Faced intense competition in Brisbane's tight rental market
- Dealt with the physical toll of house hunting while undergoing cancer treatment
Her daughter Shanae revealed the heartbreaking reality: "We applied for so many houses and kept getting rejected. It was just constant rejection."
A Temporary Reprieve That Came Too Late
After months of searching, Tammie finally secured a property through Housing Connect, Queensland's social housing service. However, the victory was bittersweet - she passed away just two weeks after moving in, on August 31st.
Her story has become a tragic symbol of Australia's deepening housing crisis, particularly affecting vulnerable individuals facing health challenges.
Systemic Failures Exposed
Advocates point to Tammie's case as evidence of systemic failures in supporting critically ill Australians. Cancer Council Queensland notes that housing insecurity adds immense stress to patients already facing life-threatening conditions.
"When you're going through cancer treatment, your home should be your sanctuary," a spokesperson stated. "Instead, many patients face the additional trauma of housing uncertainty."
The Queensland government has acknowledged gaps in the system but insists progress is being made on social housing initiatives. Meanwhile, families like Tammie's are left wondering if change will come quickly enough for others in similar situations.
Tammie's final months, marked by frantic house hunting instead of peaceful reflection, serve as a sobering reminder of how the housing crisis affects society's most vulnerable members.
