Single mum says she had to give up her children aged five, seven and 10 after being rejected from more than 100 rental properties
- Young mum Clover Coleman got notice to vacate her rental property in February
- She unsuccessfully applied for housing in Mount Gambier for four months
- She had had to allow her three children to live fulltime with their father
A young single mother had to give up her three children because she could not find a home for them to live together.
Clover Coleman’s three children, aged 5, 7 and 10 had to move in with their father after she unsuccessfully applied for more than 100 rental properties in Mount Gambier, South Australia.
Ms Coleman began applying for a new rental for her and her three children in February but was continually rejected.
Clover Coleman’s three children, aged 5, 7 and 10 had to move in with their father after she unsuccessfully applied for more than 100 rental properties in Mount Gambier, South Australia
She also applied for community housing but was told the waiting list was 10 to 12 months, The Advertiser reported.
She became homeless when the time came for her to move out of her rented home in June.
Ms Coleman narrowly avoided having to sleep on the street when a friend offered her a bed temporarily.
Luckily, a local women’s group heard of her plight and helped her find a home, allowing the family to reunite from July.
‘There were happy tears, it was a relief,’ Ms Coleman said.
“It was just (from) me talking, telling people my situation and not being afraid to be vulnerable, which is hard when you’re in that situation.’
A rental accommodation shortage in South Australia has seen many families face huge difficulties securing a home.
Ms Coleman narrowly avoided having to sleep on the street when a friend gave her a temporary bed. When she spoke out about her plight a local women’s group helped find a home for her and her children
One family of nine were forced to live in a camper trailer in Narracorte after being turned down for every property in their town.
The family bounced between several temporary homes before camping in a yard in Mount Gambier.
Paris Ingley of Limestone Real Estate said it was ‘terrible’ not being able to help rental applicants, but up to 30 people were showing up to each open house.
Nat Cook, the shadow human services spokeswoman, said families are often priced out of accommodation because of the demand for rooms for tourists.
‘What we’re seeing is families getting split up and families having to go into hotel accommodation and packing themselves up on the weekends so the tourists can stay there,’ she said.