Single parents say welfare program locking them out of rental market

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Single mum Sian Stirling is still searching for a rental property after receiving 300 rejections. She says the stigma around welfare and potentially having ParentsNext payments cut off are stopping single parents from securing homes.

Single parents on a federal government income support program say mandatory reporting requirements introduced this year are locking them out of the housing market.The ParentsNext program is designed to support parents to prepare for work by the time their youngest child starts school

Bridie Stirling, pictured here with her son Charlie, says she's had no luck getting back into the rental market, even after applying with friends. "At one point, I had $5,000 in savings, and I said, 'I can pay this month's rent in advance', but it still wasn't enough to get a lease." In April 2016, the ParentsNext program was trialled in 10 locations and was rolled out nationally in July 2018.

Bridie's cousin Sian Stirling, who is also a single mother, is two months away from qualifying for the ParentsNext program. Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnen said the statistics showed Gippsland's rental crisis is the worst in Victoria.

 

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Australia does not need mothers & kids sleeping on Streets of Australia does it? P.M.s would not have slept a day on such without security and so on? Would not even put the tent up have they? Australia descending into what? Major parties have no answer vote for womens' not them?

Because they are relying on others to cover cost so landlords can't be confident that they can support themselves without others contributing.

Unfortunately the government can’t solve everything for everyone. Sometimes you have to tuck up your sleeves and do it yourself.

Is that then 2 dads not providing child support?

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