A home in Bunbury would suit her, but she’s not fussed – Capel, Donnybrook or surrounding towns would do just as well.

Anything would be better than her current home.

Ms Seager has severe osteoarthritis in her spine and knees, and climbing the steps into her Manjimup house is torture.

“This house is like a prison – I feel trapped inside because I know if I go out I have to go up the stairs.”

She is currently living in a house owned by her former husband’s employer Gunns Limited, but said she is struggling to make rent.

Visiting the City to visit family has become a physical – and financial – impossibility.

But still no home, despite being assured by a department staff member who told her she had grounds to be a high priority case.

There are currently 816 applications for public housing in Bunbury, said Department of Housing acting general manager of service delivery Will Carroll.

They’re queuing for just 116 homes, with the only two vacant recently offered to clients.

Mr Carroll said there were no standard wait times, with the region, tenant turnover in the area and type of housing sought among various factors which effect the time taken to get housing.

He said the Department strived to meet the housing needs of all applicants on the waiting list as quickly as possible.

Agencies for South West Accommodation chief executive officer Neil Hamilton thinks they are doing a reasonable job.

Mr Hamilton said although 50 per cent of public housing was reserved for high priority cases, the waiting time still depended upon house availability.

“Our assessment is when we have people with high priority needs... we have been very impressed with the department in making those houses available as soon as they can depend upon their resources.”

But for Ms Seager, the wait is too long.

“I just want to get out of this house,” she said.