Single mum Clover Coleman left out in the cold after applying for hundreds of homes

Knocked back from more than 100 rentals, a single mum was forced to give up her children as she found herself one step away from living on the streets of Mount Gambier.

A single mum says she was knocked back from more than 100 rental properties and forced to give up her children in fear of becoming homeless, before finding a house at the eleventh hour.

Mount Gambier woman Clover Coleman said she had been applying for rentals since February when she and her three children were told they would need to vacate their home in June.

Despite being considered a category one applicant for community housing by SA Housing, Ms Coleman was told it would be a 10 to 12-month wait.

In fear of becoming homeless, Ms Coleman last month made the heartbreaking decision to let her children, aged 5, 7, and 10, live with their father.

Ms Coleman is thankful a friend has given her a bed because “if she didn’t step up then I could easily be out on the street”.

Clover Coleman applied for more than 100 rentals in Mount Gambier but has found herself homeless and separated from her three children. Picture: Jessica Ball

After hearing Ms Coleman’s story, a local women’s group reached out last week helping her find a home, allowing her to reunite with her children next month.

“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.”

But Ms Coleman is not alone, with a family of nine also telling The Advertiser the rental crisis had forced them to live in a campervan during the South-East winter.

Limestone Real Estate’s property manager Paris Ingley said they received 20 to 30 applications for each unit and three-bedroom house they advertised.

“It’s terrible not being able to help some of these applicants – hearing their stories and understanding what they’re going through, it certainly is hard having your hands tied,” Ms Ingley said.

“It’s a tough market and unfortunately we aren’t able to help everybody.”

Ms Coleman said her experience had opened her eyes to the homelessness issue within the community.

Homeless woman Clover Coleman is leading a sleep-out at the Mount Gambier Cave Garden to end the stigma, pictured with Elizabeth Deme, Danielle Tranter, Katrina Carrigan and Teare Whata. Picture: Jessica Ball

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“It made me realise how quickly a few traumatic experiences can turn your life around,” Ms Coleman said.

“It can happen to anyone.”

Labor human services spokeswoman Nat Cook said families like Ms Coleman’s were the new face of homelessness created by a “perfect storm” pricing families out of the rental market.

“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,” Ms Cook said.

Sha Human Services Nat Cook. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

She said more public housing was needed, especially in regional areas where there was a “huge risk” of homelessness.

Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink was unavailable for comment.

A Housing SA spokesperson said the average wait time for a home for category one applicants was six months and support was offered to help people secure and maintain private rentals.