Little Zarah-Jade was born with severe medical conditions and rushed to John Hunter Hospital for life saving surgery. She was born with a condition known as TOFS – Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula. This means her oesophagus wasn't connected to her stomach. Her stomach was actually connected to her lungs.

Fortunately she recovered well, but needs ongoing medical treatment and close monitoring from her parents Kaylah and Jacob. Zarah-Jade's food must be pureed or she risks choking.

"It's scary," said Jacob.

"I've held her limp in my arms before, because she choked."

Zarah-Jade has regular appointments with a paediatrician in Port Macquarie and surgeon at John Hunter Hospital.

In the weeks that followed Zarah-Jade's birth, while the family was preparing to come home and make a nursery for their new baby, they were evicted from their rental property. 

Jacob said he landlord had increased the weekly rent and would not fix damage cause by tree branches falling on the house. They thought finding another property would not be too difficult, but haven't had stable accommodation for almost two years.

At Easter 2015 the Humphryis were living in a tent at a caravan park.

It was a particularly wet Easter. While holidaymakers around them lamented the weather, packed up and headed home, this young family had to stay, surrounded by mud. 

Desperately seeking somewhere dry, dad Jacob contacted a religious organisation. A house was available at a community in the Manning.

Jacob said there was terrible mould and they lost their limited furniture to rot. Disputes and safety issues resulted in the Humphryis once again returning to the streets while applying for other rental accommodation.

“We get knocked back on two-bedroom houses because apparently a family of five can’t legally live in a two bedroom house,” said Kaylah. 

“We were living in a tent last year; a two bedroom house would be a mansion. The girls are little, and they’re sisters, I don’t see why it’s not ok for them to share a room.”

The family is doing whatever possible to avoid living in a tent again. When they came to last Friday’s Barbecue for the Needy, organiser Graham Lee said the family had been living in their car. 

Jacob, Kaylah and the children are staying temporarily in a cabin in Dunbogan and receiving food and clothing vouchers from St Vincent de Paul. They receive Centrelink benefits as Jacob is medically unable to work and Zarah-Jade needs constant supervision.

“More needs to be done in this area for homeless families,” said Kaylah. 

“I hope that by sharing our experience, people sitting in their comfortable homes spare a thought for people sleeping on the street right outside their door.”

Graham Lee said the Humphryis experience is not unique. The homeless aren’t just the single people in rags, he said, they are families with beautiful children too.

Barbecue for the Needy is on Fridays, 3pm-5pm, behind the Laurieton United Services Club.

It is a free event to provide food, comfort and encouragement for the homeless and needy in our community. This week there will be live music too. All are welcome. 

Non-perishable items of food, personal cleaning and hygiene products can be donated at Camden Haven Medical Centre in Laurie Street.