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Distressed mum 'raising four kids in her car' as she can't get a house
house.Shikera Maher, from Ipswich, Australia, has been living in her car with her teenage children for over five weeks now.The family say they have been left emotionally and physically exhausted as well as distressed from their ordeal.They have been desperately trying to find accommodation, but say the lack of rental properties in the area has left them homeless.Shikera has admitted she's at her wits' end with the situation.In the time that they have been homeless, Shikera says she's had almost 300 housing applications rejected.Before resorting to their car, the mum and her children, aged 13, 15-year-old twins, and 18, were living with friends for weeks at a time.But Shikera, who is a domestic abuse survivor, said the stress of constantly moving was too difficult given the size of the family and how most of her friends live in small houses.They are currently still using friends' bathrooms to wash in though.Shikera says she sleeps in the driver's seat, while her 18-year-old sleeps in the front passenger seat.The three younger children sleep in the back with the family's belongings.Due to living in the car, the children had to stop going to school for a period of time as it was reportedly too difficult for them to concentrate or do their homework.Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the mum-of-four said: "I don't wish the situation on anyone, not even my worst enemy."It's not a way to live, driving from one park to another because we can't stay in the same place."It’s a very hard situation.
