These single moms say landlords won't rent to them because they have kids — even though that's illegal

Mallory Gunn has applied to countless rental units, desperate to find a safe place to live with her two young children. But the Halifax-area mother is slowly realizing her kids might be her biggest obstacle. 

"I've gotten denied mostly because I have children," Gunn said in an interview. "I've had landlords tell me over the phone that their building doesn't accept children or they're looking for an applicant that is single."

With more than 7,500 households waiting for a spot in public housing and rental subsidies difficult to access, Gunn thinks her only option is to find a market rental.

She's not alone in her struggle to get approved for a rental unit. Krista Forbes, the managing lawyer of Nova Scotia Legal Aid's family law office, said she's seeing more parents being denied housing because of their children.

"There is a housing crisis that is impacting parents even more greatly than it is probably any other group," Forbes said.

The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission says that declining someone's rental application because they have children goes against provincial law.

"It is illegal under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act to discriminate against someone due to their family status, this includes refusing to rent accommodations to anyone with children," spokesperson Jeff Overmars said in an email. 

Gunn has been living with her ex-partner for 10 months as she scours rental ads multiple times a day. She said she needs to get out, but she's starting to feel hopeless. 

"I've been looking for so long and I just feel like landlords and big corporations, they get to just cherry-pick because they have so many applications and they just pick the one that makes the most income," she said. "I have a good job ... I pay all my bills. And now I could be homeless."

Gunn's budget for rent is $1,600 monthly, but she said even apartments in traditionally low-income areas like Spryfield and north Dartmouth are now more than she can afford.

She's working with a housing support worker, but they haven't been able to find her a rental either.

Gunn said if she can't find a safe and affordable place to rent soon, she may have to give up primary custody of her children to their fathers, who have stable living situations. 

"I never thought in a million years I would ever be in this situation ever," she said. "So it keeps me up at night for sure."

Forbes said in her work, she sees how housing can impact children and separate families.