Penrith is Hayley's home, but relocating from Wycheproof in country Victoria hasn't been easy for the 46-year-old and her twins, Caine and Tayla.

A year ago Hayley left her violent ex-husband, a mortgage and her friends to care for her dying brother.

``He had cancer and was only 53 and I didn't want to put him in a nursing home,'' Hayley said.

``I wanted to find a place and care for him for what ever time he had left.''

Hayley applied for 40 rentals, but when those failed she was forced to keep her brother in hospital while she and the children found refuge in a tent at a site in Emu Plains for $190 a week.

They went from the tent to living out of their car until a Housing Commission unit became available.

``I am a single mum, on a pension and when I went back to my house in Victoria to clean it up for the sale, I found it had been vandalised and my water tank had been stolen,'' she said.

Life for Hayley and the kids was made easier through the aid of WestCare a not-for-profit Penrith organisation helping those in need.

The family received blankets, clothes, toiletries and food.

For 25 years, WestCare has been helping 600 families monthly through community donations.

WestCare is holding a fund raiser in October hoping to double what they made last year.

``We're aiming for $75,000 so we can continue to help those in need,'' a WestCare spokesperson said.

Hayley encouraged others to seek help if need be. ``If it hadn't been for their help I wouldn't have made it,'' she said.

Details: This year's event, Parachute4Penrith, takes place on October 31.

WestCare wants the community to get involved by turning up on the day for food, jumping castles, a skip-a-thon and a bike-a-thon or to register to jump out of a plane.

For more information, visit parachute4penrith.com.au

- Nastasia Campanella