‘I’ve paid over $500,000 in rent – but now I’m homeless’

A single Queensland mum who has paid $500,000 in rent and owns her own business reveals how she ended up homeless.

A single mum who has paid $500,000 in rent and owns her own business has revealed how she became homeless.

Emma Lenz says renting in Australia has “broken” her after she and her two children became homeless after they were booted from their rental home after her landlord sought to increase the rent.

The 43-year-old, who lives in Darling Downs, Queensland, said she had no idea where to go and was looking at safe places to park and sleep in her car.

But in her search, a kind couple offered Emma their old caravan to sleep in while she got back on her feet.

It has been home to her and her two kids – a 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son – ever since.

She had to move out after her landlord increased the cost of the rent. Picture: Supplied

“I had no idea where I was going to go,” Emma told 7News.

“I was just going to sleep in my car, so I put an ad up for places I could park my car to sleep in. That’s when a couple offered up their old caravan for me to sleep in.”

Emma moved from Sydney up to the rural Queensland town in the hopes of a better life after splitting from her husband.

The city’s increasing rent prices caused her to struggle, and when she moved to Darling Downs, she says properties were being rented out at $250 a week.

The hard working mum owns her own gardening business and volunteers for the Rural Fire Service (RFS).

But despite a long rental history and a steady income, she still cannot find a place to live.

“The rent had double or even tripled since I’ve been out here,” she said.

“Every renter out here is traumatised. The stress of it all, it’s ridiculous.

“You have at least 50 or 60 people, if not more, trying to apply for every rental home that comes up.”

She now lives in a caravan with her kids while she saves up some money. Picture: Supplied

When she moved out of her previous home, she made a shocking discovery.

Her rental ledger indicated that she had paid over $100,000 in rent over the years.

She did the math and realised she has paid a staggering $500,000 in rent over the last 20 years.

But now the mum is trying her best to make the caravan a suitable place for her and her children to live while she saves up some money.

“I’m trying to just make it feel like a holiday rather than homelessness,” she said.

“The caravan it’s 12 years old, and it is leaking and covered in mould.”

The mum says she is disappointed at the state of renting in this country and believes more should be done to help those who are struggling.

“Owners and real estate agents need to step up and do more,” she said.

“If I could’ve bought a house 20 years ago, of course I would’ve, and then I wouldn’t be homeless and in this situation.

“But now I would take a cardboard box on a block of land. I just can’t keep living like this and I can’t keep renting.

“It has broken me.”

The mum-of-two says more should be done to help those struggling. Picture: Supplied

Sadly, the mum isn’t alone in her battle.

On any given night, about 122,494 people experience homelessness in this country, the Australian Bureau of Statistics data suggests.

Getting access to shelter with basic utilities has become harder in most states and territories except Victoria, findings by the Centre for Social Impact state, with Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia ranking lowest on the latest social progress index in terms of shelter.

The findings which looked at health, housing, education and wellbeing, show most parts of the country went backwards in meeting basic human needs in 2021.

The index examined various factors including the uptake of homelessness services, social housing tenancy rates and demand.

Emma moved from Sydney up to Queensland to get away from rising rental costs. Picture: Supplied

It also considered issues with overcrowding and rental affordability in low-income households.

Victoria was the only state that improved on housing compared with the previous year.

A friend of Lenz has also set up a Go Fund Me page to help raise money to support the mother and her family.

“Let’s get her and her kids housed ASAP or get her a new caravan at least so her and her kids can live a proper quality of life instead of in a caravan that isn’t liveable and causing concern for her health and her children’s health,” the page reads.

“I have known Emma for over 10 years and the struggle she is going through tears my heart into pieces.

“She never asks for nothing and would give her last away to someone who is less fortunate.”