Affordable accommodation out of reach
Wed 28 June 2006
Grant Reynolds, Journalism
While lucky Sunshine Coast residents beat the winter chill in luxury housing others wander the streets looking for a place to call home.
Ozanam House, a men’s hostel in Nambour, has 24 beds and runs at about 95 per cent occupancy. But St Vincent de Paul area manager Chris Stenner said the demand is believed to be much greater.
“Our observation is that clients are getting younger. The majority of them being under 30,” Mr Stenner said.
He said “the problem is getting worse”, and he “can’t see it going away soon”.
The cycle that ends in homelessness begins with a combination of factors including job loss, long-term unemployment, domestic violence and substance abuse or misuse. When the added burden of rising housing costs is thrown into the mix, the future for many Coast residents is bleak indeed.
The continually growing population of the Sunshine Coast needs somewhere to live. The concern is that as the demand increases, so does the price of rental accommodation.
Lee Banfield from the Sunshine Coast Regional Housing Council said the State Government was looking to the private rental sector as one way of easing the demand for affordable accommodation.
The problem however, is that many who can afford to pay more rent are staying in the lower end of the rental market, trying to save money for their own home. As a result, much of the needed affordable accommodation is not available.
“In reality the wait list is over 10 years,” Ms Banfield said. “The whole system is basically clogged up.”
For many of the Coast’s battlers, the sad outcome of this situation is that the great Australian dream is beyond their reach.
Noosa Councillor June Colley said Noosa Council recognises that housing is an important issue that must be addressed.
Housing stress is a situation that occurs when people are paying more than 30 per cent of their gross income on rent or a mortgage, she said.
Noosa Council has put a plan in place to reduce housing stress. The plan involves landlords renting their properties to families in need for 75 per cent of the market value.
In return the landlord has two years guaranteed tenancy and has insurance reimbursed up to $300 per year. The council screens prospective tenants and the tenants must agree to certain conditions, including that they will care for the property.
At present the council has eight properties ready to lease and hopes to find more prospective landlords.
This will help the many people in the region who are employed part-time or casually in the hospitality and tourism sector.
“The average rent is $300 per week and that is more than these people earn,” Cr Colley said.
“I realise it is a basic right for people to have food and shelter," she said.
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