Anglicare research reveals Canberra’s worsening housing crisis affecting the most vulnerable

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New statistics revealed in Anglicare’s annual national rental affordability snapshot show a catastrophic housing outlook for vulnerable people relying on government supports as Canberra’s rental crisis worsens.

CEO of Anglicare NSW South & ACT, Jeremy Halcrow, said the results are devastating but not surprising with the ACT having been in housing crisis for a number of years.

“Sadly, each year our research shows an already dire ACT rental market becoming increasingly expensive and out of reach for vulnerable families. COVID lockdowns of the past two years have highlighted the importance of safe and affordable housing for people’s wellbeing, with some people left to quarantine in caravans, tents and their cars as they have no other options. Such unstable accommodation can adversely affect all aspects of a person’s life including their mental and physical health, employment, education and relationships, along with their feelings of agency and dignity,” explained Mr Halcrow. “It doesn’t matter how hard people budget, without additional support like food relief, many families simply can’t afford keep a roof over their heads.”

Travis Gilbert, CEO of ACT Shelter, reiterated the concerns outlined in Anglicare’s report calling on the ACT Government to offer further supports. “Our private rental market is a tough place to be for the people in the capital region who are the focus of the Rental Affordability Snapshot. The vacancy rate is at 0.4 percent. A vacancy rate of 3 percent indicates a rental market balanced between landlords and tenants. In terms of housing assistance, the ACT Government has prioritised investing in modest growth and significant renewal of its public housing assets. ACT Shelter welcomes this but cautions, in the absence of Commonwealth investment, it will fall to the Territory to design and fund private rental products. At the moment, we estimate that a household needs to earn $68,000 or more per annum to avoid housing stress. This means that people relying on government supports, ranging from teenagers to those over 55 years of age, are almost certainly experiencing housing stress or at risk of homelessness,” said Mr Gilbert.

Jayne* was provided an affordable rental at one of Anglicare’s Retirement Living villages in Canberra after her home near Bombala was destroyed during the Black Summer bushfires in 2020. “My husband and I lost virtually everything. We have been displaced by homelessness,” she explained.

“We stayed in a friend’s shed but the roof was about to cave in due to flooding rains. We couldn’t find any a private rentals or motels on the South Coast but we were eventually given a repurposed shipping container pod to live in. It’s temporary and we can’t rebuild our old house because of land rezoning which removed our building entitlement. My health issues also meant I needed to move to Canberra for a period, but I couldn’t find anywhere affordable to rent until Anglicare stepped in to help. I’m able to keep my cats with me as companion pets and they help me process the trauma of the past couple of years. My husband and I are both in our 50s and now rely on the disability pension. We have to try and start again,” said Jayne.

All categories reviewed in the research showed no housing would be affordable, except for a couple on minimum wage receiving family tax benefits, and single people on minimum wage, which were only 1 and 2 percent respectively.

Anglicare is calling for greater assistance for vulnerable families in the ACT including an increase in social housing options, and an increase in government support payments.

*Name changed for privacy.

Are you looking for a media release about the 2022 Rental Affordability Snapshot findings for another region? Email Amy.lanham@anglicare.com.au or call 0437 321 451.