LOW income earners and income support recipients are getting priced out of the rental market, with a recent snapshot of the region finding only 79 properties suitable for the less well off.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Figures from the Anglicare Australia rental affordability snapshot found the Indigenous community, financially stressed and people ex- periencing mental health issues the most affected groups the region.
The snapshot looked at 528 private rentals advertised in the region on April 2 and 3 and found there was no affordable properties in Tamworth, Armidale, Inverell or Moree for single people aged over 18 living on the Newstart or Youth Allowance, and only two properties for single parents living off parenting payments.
Anglicare Northern Inland chief executive officer Larry Apthorpe said the figures were concerning and rental stress was impacting on other areas of people’s lives.
“The figures speak for themselves,” Mr Apthorpe said.
The AnglicareNI chief executive officer said “rental stress” as a result of expensive housing has a range of flow-on effects for low income families.
“With rents taking up a large part of their income, families may be cutting back in other areas like their grocery bill or their children’s school expenses, even though they don’t want to,” he said.
With the snapshot figures finding there was no appropriate housing for single people over 18 living on Newstart or Youth Allowance, Mr Apthorpe said there was pressure on young people to stay at home being inhibited by a lack of options if they need to move out.
Mr Apthorpe said a joint effort was required by the federal government and landlords to make renting more affordable and bring Commonwealth Rent Assistance in line with market costs.
Anglicare Northern Inland are currently developing a project help real estate facilitate more collaboration between people at risk of facing homelessness stay in tenancy.
Mr Apthorpe said “The Living Room Project” was still in development, but hopes to present the project to real estate agents in Tamworth, Armidale, Moree and Inverell by June 30.
RichmondPRA New England cluster manager Jim Booth said stabilising tenancy for people with mental health issues was a positive first step in making the path to recovery more realistic.
“It’s about working through the daily skills, and understanding ‘they can do this’,” Mr Booth said.
“Once you maintain housing, the path to recovery becomes more realistic.”
