An elderly man who faced early entry into aged care just to have somewhere to live says he has been saved by his community and local service agencies who rallied to find him a unit and make it his home.
Bruce Buchanan moved to Moruya on the New South Wales South Coast about a year ago to stay with his sister Gaye Finch after a series of crises left him homeless.
But with Ms Finch scheduled for significant surgery, he had to find somewhere else to live while a carer moved into her home.
After social housing provider Anglicare found him a unit, local businesses and community members answered the call to furnish the home and get it ready to move into.
Ms Finch says her brother's new place is a miracle.
"When Bruce first arrived he was very unwell, both physically and mentally," she said.
"This has saved his life."
Mr Buchanan said he has finally found peace.
"I feel like I'm home," the 74-year-old said.
Social media saves the day
The pair initially believed it would be years before Mr Buchanan would be offered a home.
They applied to have him placed in aged care to make sure he would not become homeless.
But just a few weeks ago, Mr Buchanan got a call from social housing provider Anglicare offering him a unit.
"We were just so excited," Ms Finch said.
But with almost no belongings to his name, it soon became clear more help was needed before he could move in.
"When we signed the lease I thought, where do we even start," Ms Finch said.
"He doesn't own a coffee cup."
While Mr Buchanan was initially too embarrassed to ask for help, he eventually agreed to post a message on a local page on social media.
"I just thought people would donate the basics," Ms Finch said.
"I had no idea. I had something like 80 replies within one hour, and in the end about 150 people responded with 24 hours."
A number of businesses as well as individuals stepped up to donate items including televisions, custom blinds and curtains, furniture, microwaves and other appliances.
Mr Buchanan said he could not believe the amount of support he received.
"Everything in here has been donated. You name it, it's been donated. People have just been wonderful," he said.
"I just can't thank people enough."
Stepping up as housing crisis deepens
The South Coast has been plagued by a housing crisis since before the Black Summer Bushfires in 2019/20.
Almost 50 people are living in an unpowered campsite north of Moruya, and social services in the region are struggling to keep up.
Eurobodalla Mayor Mathew Hatchers said it was not surprising Mr Buchanan found himself with nowhere to go.
"It's just another crisis that we're going through as a community, that we take on as a community, just like during the bushfires," he said.
He says it is encouraging that small business owners, who have been hit hard by the economic fallout from the fires and the pandemic, are still willing to give.
"People feel very helpless but they don't know where to start," he said.
"Things like this give us all hope."
