10 out of 18 regions in Greater Sydney had no affordable rental properties for people on income support, according to Anglicare Sydney’s annual Rental Affordability Snapshot.
The rental crisis has hit across the board, with the lowest number of private rentals listed in the last decade, and only a handful of those able to be rented by those on the minimum wage, jobseeker or the age pension.
“Housing stress for renters has been at crisis levels for some years now, and sadly this year is even worse,” said Anglicare CEO Simon Miller. “It’s clear that the minimum wage is falling well short of the increasing cost of housing, in addition to other impacts of inflation and high cost of living.”
Anglicare provides families and individuals assistance with rent, food, and electricity through community hubs.
“Our employees and volunteers are seeing more and more people seek assistance for the first time. Those who work hard to provide for themselves are stuck in a cycle of increased costs everywhere, with wages not keeping up.” Mr Miller said.
Hope in the Illawarra
As part of its support of those struggling with housing costs, Anglicare has just opened its latest social housing development at the former Steelworks Hotel site in Port Kembla.
The development includes 30 studio apartments for social housing residents aged 55 and over, as part of a $10 million development which has been 50-50 funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice’s Community Housing Innovation Fund (CHIF) and Anglicare Sydney’s fundraising and resources.
“Projects like these are a lifeline to those at risk of homelessness, particularly at a time of significant cost-of-living pressure and worsening housing affordability.” Mr Miller said. “We thank the NSW Government for their partnership in this project.”
“This housing crisis is not going away. We need an urgent and long-term commitment to improve affordability from all levels of government, the community services sector and the business sector. Low-income families need relief as they struggle to keep a roof over their head and put food on the table.
