The Anglicare Rental Affordability snapshot surveyed properties advertised for rent in the Goulburn region on April 1 in terms of affordability and appropriateness to accommodate the required number of people.

The survey found there were almost no affordable and suitable properties for young people, single parents or people with a disability who relied on welfare support. Very few properties were available for those on the aged pension or couples with children on welfare support. 

Anglicare crisis housing manager Toni Reay said the lack of affordable rentals in the Goulburn region was of major concern.

“There is the assumption that rents are more affordable in regional areas like Goulburn rather than the cities, but the research points to a lack of available housing that is simply making things too hard for families who rely on government support,” Ms Reay said. 

Ms Reay said the housing affordability index used in the research is based upon 30 per cent of the income being spent on rent.

She said the lowest rental in Goulburn was $200 a week for a one-bedroom flat for a single person in private accommodation. For a house, the median weekly rent was between $320 and $350 per week. 

“With Newstart Allowance averaging $520 per fortnight, that does not leave much per fortnight to pay for bills, food, medications and everything else – let alone having a phone or for transport costs. It is poverty,” she said. 

“Also there are extra transport costs here because we are a regional centre and people have to travel to the cities for some medical treatments, et cetera. It is bleak.” 

She said those in social housing fared better, but, even then, if they were on a priority wait list, they could wait 12 months for accommodation, while the general wait list was 10 years.

Goulburn woman Sarah Little has been through the housing affordability wringer. 

“I’d been on the government housing wait list for over seven years and without Anglicare’s help I would still be waiting,” Ms Little said. 

“The only place I could afford was the caravan park or emergency accommodation. As a single mother, this is not what I wanted for my two children who live at home.

“I think affordability is hard for low-income earners in Goulburn. While the rent is cheaper here than in places like Sydney, it’s still too expensive.

“More affordable rents and more support for renters is needed. Without it, I don’t feel secure and I don’t feel stable. If anything happens, I’m right back to the difficult position I was previously in.”

Ms Reay said Anglicare would welcome any more assistance from the government, including providing more social housing. 

“Many areas need to be tackled as rental affordability is complex,” Ms Reay said.  

“Improving security for renters, addressing the low level of welfare payments for low income families and reducing community stigma so that people seek help earlier before situations become desperate and unmanageable are some of the ways this can be done.”

She said Anglicare was there to help those in crisis or close to being in crisis. They can be contacted on 4823 4000.