A new report revealing the unaffordability of housing for Australia’s essential workers underscores the urgent need for bold government action to end the crisis, Everybody’s Home said.
Released on Anti-Poverty Week (13-19 October), Anglicare’s special edition of the Rental Affordability Snapshot shows less than one percent of rentals are affordable for full-time workers in hospitality, construction and early childhood.
Even workers with the highest award wages could only afford 3.7 percent of rentals.
A statement from Everybody’s Home: “From essential workers, to people on the lowest incomes, millions of people are struggling to afford their biggest cost-of-living expense: rent. Housing stress and homelessness are far too high in our wealthy country.
“Essential workers are increasingly being priced out of renting near their workplaces and the absence of these workers in our communities affects all of us.
“This Anti-Poverty Week, we are calling on politicians to commit to our Roadmap to Reform, and for everyone to back our call to end Australia’s massive social housing shortfall. We must expand access to social housing so that it’s a viable option for more Australians, not just a safety net for people on the lowest incomes.
“Everyone deserves a safe, decent, affordable place to live and the federal government has an obligation to make this happen. Tinkering around the edges on housing won’t create the change that Australians so desperately need - it’s time for bold action.”
Media contact: Sofie Wainwright 0403 920 301