When Jenny thinks of "poverty", she recalls the time her son had to steal food in order to feed the family. "We had nothing for dinner, and the kids were hungry," she remembers.

For the last nine years, Jenny, along with her five children, has been on the run. In a desperate effort to escape situations of domestic violence, Jenny has often found herself with no place to stay. A recent home invasion saw her and her children put up by the Department of Housing in a hotel for two nights.

"Finding secure accommodation is the hardest thing," says Jenny, who currently lives on the NSW Central Coast. Jenny worries about the impacts on her children. "My 13 year-old has grown up watching violence in the home - and she is a mess. The kids are trying hard to be good at school, but having to change schools so often means that they're unsettled; they find it hard to make friends, and I know they are angry."

For Jenny, some of the experiences she has endured have made her physically ill.

"Sometimes we do go without. I'd love to be able to buy more fruit for the kids," says Jenny, who adds that when things get really tight, affording two litres of milk and a loaf of bread can be a challenge.

Though Jenny receives the single parents benefit, she doesn't have enough money to pay for school excursions for her kids. "I can't afford day care for the baby either," she said. "It's really hard on the kids. My daughter wants to go out with her friends to the movies; she wants the things the other kids have, but I just can't afford it."

Ten years ago, Jenny was happily married, and led a stable and fulfilling life in Sydney. Her husband supported her and her family. But then, things took a turn for the worse. Jenny's husband took his own life, and the family started to unravel. Her oldest daughter, unable to cope with the death of her father, turned to drugs, and ended up spending time in jail.

Jenny remarried and moved to the Central Coast. Before too long, she found herself in a situation of domestic violence. Without family around her for support, and in a bid to protect her children, she embarked on a life on the run. So dire has her situation become, that Jenny has organised for two of her daughters to stay with her sister who lives in Sydney's western suburbs until she can secure some housing nearby for her and the kids.

Luckily for Jenny, she discovered HABITAT, a program run by a welfare agency that helps people who are facing homelessness, through advocacy, referral, practical and personal support. Vickie from HABITAT provides Jenny with support with her domestic violence situation, and is helping her work towards her goal of being re-united with her family in secure accommodation in Sydney.

"Once I sort that out, I will be able to look for work, which will help the situation," she said. Jenny is also very keen for her children to have the best education possible and would like her youngest child who is five to attend child care. "This would really help me, and would help her prepare for school."

With the continued support of the welfare agency, Jenny hopes her goals will be realised.

"I would love to be able to buy my kids a Barbie, or a pushbike or a skateboard one day." Jenny's experience highlights that support services which are easily accessible are essential in helping people to avoid homelessness.

*not her real name