GOULBURN is in the middle of a housing crisis, with low income earners finding themselves shut out of the local private rental market.
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That’s the finding of Anglicare’s sixth annual Rental Affordability Snapshot for Southern NSW, which surveyed 86 properties advertised for rent in the Goulburn region on Saturday, April 11.
It found no affordable and suitable properties for a family or single person living on Newstart, people on Youth Allowance and single parents receiving a Parenting Payment.
This is despite an increase in the number of properties for rent over the past 12 months.
Anglicare Regional Director Simon Bennett said the undersupply of affordable rentals in Goulburn was very concerning.
“The housing affordability crisis has been ignored for too long and it is taking a toll on our community,” he said.
“What we are seeing is young people severely impacted by the lack of suitable housing options across Goulburn.”
Mr Bennett said Anglicare’s work with young people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness showed that appropriate, secure and affordable housing was the basic foundation for their wellbeing.
“The worsening housing situation in Canberra and Queanbeyan is causing rental prices to rise in the Yass Valley and Goulburn Mulwaree with many people unable to afford the cost of rentals in the national capital,” he said.
The survey looked at housing in terms of affordability (up to 30 per cent of disposable income) and appropriateness to accommodate the required number of people.
Of the 86 properties surveyed, families on a dual minimum wage had 52 rental options, while single parents earning a minimum wage income had only seven suitable options.
“The private rental market in South-East NSW has few options for persons on a low income such as minimum wage or government benefits,” the report concluded.
“This is placing significant pressure on government housing programs, as well as contributing to financial stress and social exclusion in families unable to access subsidised housing.”
It noted that in particular, aged pensioners, single parents, disability pensioners, unemployed people and families, and students have virtually no access to appropriate and affordable housing.
“It’s frightening to find that even in light of the changes to single parent benefits, to encourage single parents to find work, that even a full time low-skilled worker cannot afford to live with their family in Goulburn,” Mr Bennett said.
“The fact remains that low-paid and particularly part time workers are unable to afford housing in this market and are likely to have the added financial burden of childcare costs as well.”
Mr Bennett fears the number of people living in poverty and crisis in the Goulburn Mulwaree region will continue to rise if the issue is not addressed.
“There is an urgent need for a new and considered approach towards funding affordable housing in Australia,” he said.
Anglicare have said they will push for the reinstatement of funding for round five of the National Rental Affordability Scheme to finance the construction of 12,000 new affordable rental dwellings across NSW, along with an immediate increase to the Commonwealth Rent Assistance to relieve rental stress.