‘Sign of the times’: Single mum, kids forced to sleep in tent

A Toowoomba mum and her two kids open up about the moment they were forced to live in a tent due to the housing crisis. Here’s how one life-changing call helped them find home.

A single mum who applied for hundreds of rental properties has opened up about the heartbreaking moment which led to her living in a tent with her two children.

Misty Hogan, 27, found herself as one of the 300,000 Queenslanders struggling to find a home, despite applying for at least three properties a week for almost two years.

Despite her commitment to finding a home for her and her two children aged two and five, Ms Hogan said at one point the trio were forced to live in a tent in the backyard of a family member.

“It’s been quite a hard and long journey … we’ve couch surfed, shared bedrooms and at one stage we even slept in a tent,” she said.

“I never imagined I’d be in the position of being a single mum with two kids and homeless – I felt like a failure.”

Working as a cleaner part-time, the mum of two said she applied for hundreds of units, duplexes, houses around the $300 a week mark but was constantly denied on the basis of affordability.

Misty Hogan with her daughters Savannah Jones (left) and Anastasia Hogan. Picture: Rhylea Millar

While Ms Hogan sat on the housing list for more than six years, the temporary solution of staying with family members became impossible once she gave birth to her second child.

In May 2023, PropTrack data revealed some renters across the Sunshine State were forking out up to $20,000 more a year to keep a roof over their heads.

Designed to provide secure and affordable housing for women, children and gender-diverse people, 15 homes have been purchased in suburbs across to Toowoomba and will be used as social housing to combat the growing housing shortage.

The initiative will be delivered through a Queensland Government and YWCA National Housing partnership.

Eight of the 15 properties have already been settled with Ms Hogan and her children among the first tenants to settle into their new homes.

Three months ago, the mum and her two children moved into a two-bedroom unit in Darling Heights and marked the first time the family have had their own home.

Last month, six two-bedroom units in the suburb of Darling Heights were listed for rent on realestate.com.au with the median rental price rising by 10.7 per cent in the past 12 months and up to $310 per week.

“It took a lot of tears but we got there – I cried when I got the call … it was a miracle,” Ms Hogan said.

“My kids are the reason I get up every day so to see them over the moon is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

“I’m not the only person that was in this position and I know a lot of people with children who are still struggling to find a home.”

YWCA national team leader – community housing Libby van der Waal said while she could not confirm specific waiting list data, she knew the demand for housing was high in the Toowoomba region.

“Our organisation really wants to respond to the housing crisis and one of the things that are unique about us is we really want to have a gendered solution to that,” she said.

“It’s a sign of the times that we’re currently living in but women are now feeling stronger to voice the crisis they are going through and escape situations like family and domestic violence.

“So many people are only one step away from homelessness whether it be illness or losing their job, so we also really want to focus on breaking down those barriers for support by connecting our residents with services to help take the next step beyond finding a home.”

YWCA national team leader for community housing Libby van der Waal with Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon in Toowoomba. Picture: Rhylea Millar

The initiative is part of the Queensland government’s $5bn investment for social and affordable housing and homelessness support, with an aim to provide 13,500 homes for people in need.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said while the Queensland government had committed to building new homes, they had also invested in existing properties to serve immediate needs.

“We’ve delivered 185 new homes in the Darling Downs region but there are many more in the pipeline,” she said.

“The whole state is experiencing really tight vacancy rates and that’s putting pressure on families with people who have never needed government assistance before and are now calling out for support.

“We have huge interstate migration beyond what we used to traditionally see and we’ve got a lot of pressures on the construction industry so all of that adds to the pressure that we’re experiencing.”

Ms Scanlon said in addition to increasing the stock available, the state government was also working on ensuring the type of stock was appropriate to meet specific needs and offered at an affordable price.

The Housing Minister said the State Government was also investing in the construction of tiny homes and working with councils and the Federal Government to address the needs of people on the housing register.