How is it that despite decades of work and contribution, my daughter and I still cannot access secure housing?
My daughter and I were trapped in an abusive environment, stripped of physical, emotional, and economic freedom. Choosing to leave was terrifying, but it was a choice made for our basic human rights.
In the aftermath, as I connected with Child FIRST services, my experience was validated. I began to heal and rebuild my self-esteem.
But the system continues to work against families like mine.
Recently, my employment contract ended. My Family Tax Benefits do not even cover our monthly rent, let alone the essentials of life.
To survive the cost-of-living crisis, I am forced to drain the very savings I managed to set aside for a housing deposit and my family’s future, leaving me with a heavy heart and feelings of despair, wondering if I will ever find a secure place.
As I looked for stability, I realized my story was not an isolated one. I met a whole community of single mothers facing the exact same barrier: the near-impossible task of finding safe, long-term, affordable housing.
The expectations placed on mothers are immense, yet the actual labor of nurturing and caring remains invisible to policymakers.
True social justice means externalizing these issues rather than quietly accepting the scraps handed down by government decisions.
I was raised in a politically intellectual household in regional Victoria, I was deeply influenced by my Auntie Jan, a radical 1980s feminist—who taught me to challenge the status quo. This guidance instilled a keen curiosity and fierce commitment to social justice and human rights. Channelling this passion into decades of community work and activism to amplify marginalised groups within the community, I discovered that giving people a voice is the first step towards demanding change.
Safe housing is the foundation every child needs to thrive, not a privilege. For this election, political parties must commit to delivering affordable housing that genuinely reaches single-mother families, ensuring they are prioritised with the stable, long-term security required to raise the next generation.
*name changed to protect privacy
Elsie’s experience is one of many stories highlighting the challenges facing single mother families. This Victorian election, we’re calling on political leaders to take action. Add your name to our Open Letter and help ensure single mothers are seen, heard and prioritised this election.
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