courtyard in her pyjamas cradling a warm cup of coffee.She recently moved in with her partner's family, and although she's grateful to have a roof over her head, the situation is far from ideal.
When this group started spending more than 30 per cent of their income on accommodation, they were more likely to be at risk from conditions such as anxiety and depression. And while some do well in this environment, the same can't necessarily be said for many who move back in their 30s, or even late 20s.
While Professor Bentley's research highlights the role of housing-induced financial stress on mental health, other research focuses on the psychological dimensions of housing insecurity. Dr Kunjan found that when people did have to move, they made an effort to stay in the same suburb at least, so they could keep their connections with neighbours for example.Lack of control and 'learned helplessness'
"It's nearly like a coping mechanism of 'why keep on trying if you're going to keep on getting a bad outcome?'"Without enough self-esteem, we might also generalise hopelessness to other areas of our lives, like whether it's worth applying for certain jobs, Dr Hodgins says.Her experience looking for a place to rent left her feeling she had no autonomy, and she didn't know what else she could do.
Madi tries not to think too far ahead, but her constant preoccupation with finding affordable housing makes her dreams feel less obtainable.