WOMAN WITH EMPHYSEMA OFFERED HOME, HUNDREDS MORE HOUSING APPLICANTS WAIT IN PILBARA

BY GERARD MAZZA

Mary Narrier. Credit: Gerard Mazza.

A woman with emphysema has succeeded in her struggle for social housing in South Hedland and said those in need should not have such difficulty securing homes.

56-year-old Mary Narrier said she was overjoyed to be offered a two-bedroom house in South Hedland yesterday by the local Department of Communities Housing Office.

“I feel over the moon,” she said.

“When I saw my daughter-in-law, I just cried. My family are so happy for me. Tears of joy.”

The offer came just over a week after Ngaarda Media first reported on Ms Narrier’s search for a home and her struggle to find appropriate living arrangements where she could effectively treat her emphysema.

Ms Narrier said obtaining housing had been a stressful process.

“Especially when you’ve got all the important documents that you’ve put forward to Housing, Housing needs to be more sympathetic to people who have real medical issues,” she said.

According to the Department of Communities, as of March 31, there were 660 public housing waitlist applications for the Pilbara region, representing 1,299 people.

Listen to an interview with Ms Narrier: