'Heartbreaking' note found at beach after woman loses her job

It's been a seriously tough time for many people in the last couple of months with mass redundancies, pay cuts and some people being unable to work at all due to the coronavirus restrictions.

And one woman has found herself seriously down on her luck, taking to the streets of Sydney's beachside suburb of Coogee to ask for help.

A heartbreaking note by a woman from Sydney's Coogee looking for a room to rent has gone viral on social media as people try to help her find a home. Photo: Getty
A heartbreaking note by a woman from Sydney's Coogee looking for a room to rent has gone viral on social media as people try to help her find a home. Photo: Getty

Journalist Erin Lyons shared the note to Twitter writing: "This was posted on the running trail in South Coogee. Honestly though if anyone has a room available, I’ve got her number (I know this note is posted in a public space but I just felt weird sharing her mobile). Message me."

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The note in the picture read: "Hello new landlord! 31 year-young female kinesiologist [and] writer looking for quiet room to rent. Short or long term. I may have lost my job [and] home but not my spirit.

"Budget: half my Centrelink (amount not confirmed). Can help with: gardening, cleaning, shopping, dog-walking, kinesiology... babysitting, company. Love [and] light Tove."

It didn't take long for people to respond to Erin's tweet, one user wrote that they knew Tove and that seeing the note "really upset" her.

"OMG- this really upset me. I worked with Tove many years ago. She is a great and loving person. She deserves the best like most, I miss her," she wrote.

Others shared their suburbs and their willingness to help with another writing: "Let me know if she still needs a place. We have a spare room for her." Someone else added, "I'm in Marrickville... more than happy to reach out – heartbreaking."

Another said: "If only my place was big enough. @erinrileyau did some great work with her app [Find a Bed] during the bushfires and they are now using for COVID-19. No woman should be without a roof... Especially approaching winter."

Erin later shared a screenshot with an update from Tove, who said she "had some kind souls reaching out".

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"Wow haver I had some kind souls reaching out. Not at anytime am I feeling fearful but more heartbroken to give up my little Coogee cottage and 'independence' as I am a little bit of a hermit,” she said.

"Thank you for your post... What's meant to be will be. In the interim I will just keep the pen moving!"

Hopefully with all of these helpful replies, Tove finds herself a home soon.

Find a Bed is a volunteer run organisation helping people find accomodation during emergencies. If you're interested in supporting Find a Bed, you can do so here.

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