Stacey Allen and David Field have been homeless for the past five years, forced to live in a station wagon they park in various locations all over the city.

Things took a turn for the worse last week when Ms Allen was assaulted after she answered a knock on the car’s window early one morning.

“I’m a heavy sleeper but Stacey woke me up screaming, her nose was broken and there was blood everywhere,” Mr Field said.

Ms Allen said this incident was the last straw for the couple, who admit they’re battling to stay positive about their situation.

“We just want a place to call home,” Ms Allen said.

The cold weather has also proved problematic for Ms Allen who suffers from asthma.

“I have to use my puffer [inhaler] once or twice a night,” she said.

At the moment the couple uses Mr Field’s father’s bedsit to shower and prepare food.

However at around 7.30pm Mr Field’s father, who is unwell, goes to bed and the couple is forced to return to their car for the night.

“Dad’s been good but he needs to sleep and privacy,” Mr Field said.

“But I’m fed up with it, I’m 21 years old and I can’t even stay up late ... I mean I can stay up late but that’s just sitting in a car.”

Mr Field said the fact that he’s on a disability pension and Ms Allen is on the government’s Newstart Allowance means it’s difficult for them to rent a property in the private sector even though they can afford to do so.

“They want people who are working,” Mr Field said.

The couple is currently waiting for Housing NSW to allocate them a home but want to know why they haven’t been deemed a priority.

“We’ve filled out the forms [for priority housing] and everything but we still haven’t got anywhere,” Mr Field said.

tracey.prisk@ruralpress.com