Please help me purchase a home for my family

Hi, my name is Naomi; I am a single mum who is hoping to raise the 2% deposit I need to purchase a home for me and my daughters through the NSW Government's Shared Equity Scheme.

I have two amazing daughters, aged 10 and 7, who live with me full-time (their dad currently lives in England). I got divorced in 2020 during the madness of the COVID-19 pandemic then fell on hard times; I was unable to find a job and ended up being out of work for over 18 months. I used all the money I got from the sale of my ex's and my joint property to pay our day-to-day living expenses and ended up having to borrow over $20,000 from family members simply to make ends meet.

We have been leasing a granny flat in Forestville for the past 3.5 years paying $800/week rent. We received notification last week that our lease is being terminated, requiring us to move out in 90 days. Since then, I have viewed three properties, all smaller than our current home but asking MORE than we are currently paying. It's depressing!

I found out a while ago that I qualify for the NSW Government's Shared Equity Scheme. Simply, the State Government will contribute 30% of the purchase price of a property for me and my daughters to live in up to the maximum of $950,000 as long as I am able to pay a 2% deposit (that's up to $19,000 depending on the price of the property). I have tried to save the deposit, but my current full-time salary is less than $70,000 per annum and my rent takes up almost 60% of that.

It would be truly life-changing for me and my daughters to be freed from the insecurity of renting by being able to buy our own home. I am asking you to consider helping us get there. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.