Kate never imagined that at age 40 she would move back in with her mom and dad and share a king-size mattress on the floor with her two young children.
But that has been his reality for the last six months.
While Kate is grateful to be able to lean on her elderly parents, unlike many others facing homelessness, she is another victim of the devastating rental crisis occurring across Australia.
With a salary of $100,000 a year, Kate is stuck in limbo. Agents continue to reject her rental applications, but she earns “too much” to be considered for government help to get back on her feet.
‘The scheme [I applied for] “It is intended to help survivors of domestic violence rebuild their lives, helps them find a home and pay part of the rent for three years,” she told FEMAIL.
Kate never imagined that at age 40 she would be living with her mom and dad again and sharing a king-size mattress on the floor (pictured) with her two young children.
“But my application was not processed when I first left my relationship and I have worked very hard to improve my financial situation, so I do not qualify now.”
Despite earning too much to qualify for aid, the mother also does not earn enough, in the eyes of many, to be considered for a rental property.
She has applied for more than 100 rentals since her landlord announced they were moving back into the place she had called home for five years.
“She was the best owner, she gave me 90 days notice but told me not to worry if I went a little overboard,” Kate said.
At first I was confident I would find a place, but then the weeks turned into months.
‘We stayed five months after the original date. “The owner was nice and he didn’t want us to have nowhere to go, but I realized we wouldn’t be able to get a place anywhere, so I moved back in with my parents,” he said.
The location, although safe, is not ideal as it is far from Kate’s work, the children’s school and her wider support network.
‘Dad, who is an older man, takes the children home from school when I work late. He loves it, but it can’t last forever.
He spends up to three hours a day in the car helping his exhausted daughter.
Kate had never had trouble getting a rental when she was with her exes, but she took the brave step of “breaking free” from a dangerous relationship and funding her young family alone.
She worked very hard to recover from someone else’s financial control, but she continues to feel frustrated because “it’s like it doesn’t matter.”
The rental crisis has become a topic of conversation among Australians desperate to find a home.
The rental market then was different. She fears women will have to make the impossible decision to stay with abusers now because finding a safe home is so difficult for single mothers.
‘All the single mom Facebook pages have posts with the same story. “No one will accept us, even if we can pay the rent,” she said.
He shows up for as many rental inspections as he can, has a glowing reference, and the income to provide his family of three with a two-bedroom apartment close to work and school.
“The agents don’t even want to have a conversation with you,” he said.
‘I went for an inspection and the place had mold everywhere. I asked him about it and he just tried to tell me that it’s not mold, that the paint just looks like that,” he said.
“The worst thing is that the rental market is so tight that homes are rented immediately.”
She hopes to soon have her own roof over the children’s heads.
“They don’t care much, they love sleeping with me.” But I really need my own space,” she said. ‘I’m never alone. I don’t have anywhere to go that’s just for me.’
She has also criticized Anthony Albanese’s government for failing her and many others.
‘He grew up in a single parent home, went on and on protecting women and families, and has done nothing. If anything, she has made everything worse,” she stated.
“Children are ending up on the streets.”
She “asked for help” but received the same infuriating responses over and over again: “They can’t give me any support unless I’m officially homeless,” she said.
He also claims that the government as a whole is simply not taking the issue seriously.
“Even if they capped rents now – housing is too expensive or unavailable – they should have capped it years ago,” he said.
‘I came out of a violent relationship and now I feel like our government is abusing me financially. “Single mothers have it difficult,” she stated.
And people in the community have left her frustrated.
“They will ask me why I live with my parents when I am forty, and they will tell me to get my life together,” she said.
She has always been independent and says she is surprised to be where she is.
“But it’s not because I don’t have my life in order, it’s the state of the real estate crisis,” he said.
While Kate hasn’t completely given up on finding a rental place in Sydney, she has been deeply disillusioned by the process.
“I can’t stay with my parents forever and I don’t want to put pressure on them or our relationship,” she said.
“I’ve been saving for the one per cent deposit scheme – if I buy, we won’t have to go through this again.”
If you need help with Domestic Violence call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
1800 RESPECT is a 24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence advice line for any Australian who has experienced or is at risk of family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.