Children in lower-income households whose parents receive a rental assistance payment and use it to move into better-quality housing are more likely to go to university than otherwise, a new study found. The children were also less likely to experience homelessness later in life, found the paper from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, The impact of Commonwealth Rent Assistance on low-income privately renting parents and children. Rent support payments can help children’s chances of attending university later in life. Credit: Sam MooyTo enable the long-term social mobility, parents needed to use the Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment to rent a home that was better quality, or less overcrowded, or in a better neighbourhood – especially as suburbs with better public schools tend to have more expensive rents, said lead researcher Chris Leishman, Professor of Property and Housing Economics at the University of South Australia. “We have got some evidence that used in the right way, Commonwealth Rent Assistance does have a positive effect on social mobility,” he said.