If, as your post says, the town officials questioned them about their relationship for an hour and then denied the permit, there must have been something off-kilter, such as the woman wanting to depend on child support payments for the oldest child that would cease if they got married to legitimize the two other children. Perhaps they need a course in financial management and birth control, so that they can get their "dream home" in line with their ability to pay for the number of children they claim to be the parents of.