‘Worst nightmare’: Ipswich single mums facing homelessness speak out about rental ‘discrimination’

An Ipswich single mother, forced to move due to flood damage after finally succeeding on her 597th rental application, says single mothers face rental discrimination in a heartbreaking market.

Ipswich women are speaking out about the hardships of navigating the rental market as single mothers.

Nicole Kent, mother of eight, secured her last property a year-and-a-half ago after months of being separated from her children while homeless.

“That basically killed me. Being a mother for 24 years to suddenly nothing … You feel hopeless,” she said.

She said real estate agents had “discriminated” against her because she was a single mum.

“Real estate agents have told me ‘oh go get a partner’,” she said.

Eventually, Ms Kent succeeded the 597th property she applied for, and said the real estate agent only took a chance on her because she was a bond cleaner, and told her if she cleaned it, she could have it.

“My girls ended up going to Tasmania in April to visit their father last year – and I surprised them with a house,” she recounted.

She was finally able to reunite with her children – some of which had been living with her sister, and others with her adult daughter.

Earlier this year, however, Ms Kent lost half of her belongings, including her car, to the February floods, and faced the prospect of homelessness once again.

Nicole Kent, an Ipswich single mother who has spoken out about ‘discrimination’ in rental market

“I lost my bedroom, my mattress, and everything else. What I’ve got now, family and friends have lent it to me,” she said.

“[The real estate agent] said look on my website and see what houses are available, and I said ‘yeah they’re way over my price range. I can’t afford that … I can’t afford to move.’”

Ms Kent said she worked part-time at McDonald’s and some of her children worked in similar roles, but ultimately she did not make enough money as a single mum to afford the move.

Fixing flood damage to her car could cost upwards of $1000, and Centrelink recently issued her a $1500 fine for not physically having her children in her care while she was homeless — despite still financially contributing to their care at the time.

“I don’t need this bill … I’ve been trying and trying and trying and trying and no one’s hearing me,” she said.

Another Ipswich woman reached out to The Queensland Times recently with a similar story.

A single mother of three who escaped from a domestic violence relationship last year, she said she has since struggled to find a house.

“I’m pretty sure I’m being discriminated against due to having kids and being a single unemployed mum.”

Due to give birth to a fourth child in late September, she said “I’m stuck trying to find a place on my own, and a lot of places aren’t even giving me a chance”.

“It’s heartbreaking being pregnant, fearing you will be on the streets.”

Recent statistics have shown almost 2,000 people visited Specialist Homelessness Services in the Ipswich City Council area over just one year, and the social housing waitlist has more than doubled since 2017.

St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland Ipswich Regional President Ann Romeo said a large contributing factor to the increase was the housing shortage — exacerbated by the floods.

She said they had also seen an increase in people fleeing domestic violence and more single parents with children.

“A lot of people at the moment are homeless because where they were renting is uninhabitable, and there is hardly any rental accommodation for them. They are living in tents, caravan parks, camping in the park – wherever they can,” Mrs Romeo said.

“It’s affecting a broad spectrum of people. And I think it is going to get worse as interest rates go up.”

Some single parents say finding a home in the current rental market was extremely difficult.

Ms Kent said she was ultimately afraid she would end up in the same situation again — homeless, and separated from her children.

“The biggest fear of my life is that I’m going to have no children,” she said.

“Being a mum, you feel like you’re failing them … because I can’t keep a damn roof over their heads.”

Ultimately, she said her situation was her “worst nightmare”.

“I know I’m not the only one out there; there’s families living in tents and stuff, so I do sort of see myself lucky in that sense.”

“I don’t want to end up like that. I’ve already done that – I’ve been there, done that; it’s not nice,” she said.

Ms Kent said reaching out for help was one of the hardest things about being in that situation.

“I’m always the person to help others constantly — never ever ask for help,” she said.

She explained she had volunteered in the past, helping the homeless, and having the roles reversed was difficult for her.

“Being on the other end, being homeless and everything else, I felt so guilty asking for help.”

“This is not me. I help people, I don’t expect help back,” she said.

Since first speaking to The Queensland Times, Ms Kent has been lucky enough to secure a property, but has said it’s far from perfect.

“It’s not by choice to be honest, but it’s a home,” she said.

HELP AVAILABLE

■ Anyone seeking housing assistance can contact their local Housing Service Centre or phone 13QGOV. The Ipswich Housing Service Centre can be contacted on 3437 6000 or [e-mail]