Commissioners Cameron and Gurran,

Where families are unable to provide this primary and secondary support and nurture, or for some reason fail, it should be guaranteed by the State.'2 This perverse policy shift plays out for us in stories that, while not common, are increasing numerically and are hugely damaging to both mothers and their children: o Single mothers who have relinquished their children to a family member or to their. [...] It is also the case that increasingly workers in these services are facing burnout as the options available to help people reduce, and the misery and desperation in front of them increases. [...] Challenges arising for both individuals and non-housing services include: o Who do you call when you are struggling and the numbers you are given doesn’t answer? o What does each explanation mean in your circumstance and who has the time to explain them to you? o What is PRAP (or other State equivalent) and what is the 55% rent rule and how does it apply to your circumstance? o What is the family. [...] While business as usual continues, homelessness is increasing, mental health issues are blowing out and the community sector is experiencing high rates of burnout that are likely to further damage services and the prospects for single mothers and their children to recover any semblance of wellbeing. [...] We ask that the People’s Commission: ➢ Use any influence available to it to further investigate the extent of the damaging practice in the rental market of excluding applicants from applying to properties in which rent is more than 30% of their income.