No-fault homelessness on the rise, housing services overwhelmed—Anglicare report confirms rental situation worsening in Goulburn region

Anglicare Australia’s Rental Affordability Snapshot (RAS), released this week, reveals a familiar trend. Despite a recent interest rate cut, and relief in sight for mortgage holders, availability for renters continues to worsen—and for those on low incomes the situation is beyond dire.

“I am terrified for some of my clients”, said Jean*, an Anglicare NSW South, NSW West & Act Housing and Homelessness Case Manager based in Goulburn. “Housing (NSW) is overwhelmed. We are overwhelmed. Community housing options are far too limited and temporary accommodation in motels is often full. Last week a retired women in her late 60s, currently undergoing cancer treatment, had nowhere to stay but her car.”

Devastating stories like this reflect the harsh conclusions of this year’s RAS. The report, which annually evaluates the availability of affordable rental properties for households on low incomes confirms that across the Goulburn region, the rental situation has become impossible for those on low incomes.

RAS figures show:

• For a single person on JobSeeker, just three properties would be affordable nationwide.
• Nothing would be affordable for someone receiving Youth Allowance.
• Single people on the Disability Support Pension or Age Pension could afford 0.1 and 0.3 percent of properties.

Nationally, rental rates increased 14 percent over the past two years, according to new analysis from Money.com.au, which is on top of the 40 percent increase seen in Goulburn in the 5 years to 2024*. Population growth, extremely low vacancy rates and a stagnant housing supply have resulted in a rental environment that is utterly untenable for those on low incomes.

Jennifer, a long-time Goulburn resident and full-time carer for her adult son with autism, never imagined homelessness would touch their lives. For years, she carefully budgeted the Carer’s Pension and her son’s Disability Pension, consistently covering rent and other essentials without issue. However, when her landlord recently decided to sell, she was shocked by how difficult the rental market has become.

Despite a spotless rental history and strong references—and despite applying to every available property in her price bracket—Jennifer was repeatedly rejected. Through no fault of their own, she and her son were left homelessness for more than eight weeks.

Anglicare helped secure Jennifer and her son temporary motel accommodation, but stability remained out of reach. The frequent moves—from one motel to another around Goulburn, and even once as far as Sydney, took a serious toll. Her son struggled without routine; they both endured the strain of living without proper cooking facilities. The uncertainty and stress triggered a series of health issues for Jennifer.

“I used to think that if you ended up homeless it was your own fault”, said Jennifer. “I don’t think that way anymore.”

“With the rental market as competitive as it is, applicants on Centrelink go to the bottom of the list”, said Jean. “We have clients that are doing all the right things, and not getting anywhere.”

According to this year’s Snapshot, in the NSW Southwest region, which includes Goulburn, 0-2% of rental listings were appropriate and affordable for households surviving on income support payments, with 1% for households earning minimum wage.

This ongoing epidemic of unaffordability means that services like Anglicare Housing and Homelessness Support are faced with a concerning rise in client numbers. Funded to assist 245 clients per financial year, the Goulburn team assisted more than double that in 2023-2024 and has already recorded close to 450 in the current financial year.

“The private rental market hasn’t been working for a long time”, said Anglicare Australia CEO Kasy Chambers. “We need to be calling on the government to be ambitious on this. Every year it gets worse and every year it gets harder to meet the shortfall and fill this chasm.”

While not for profits like Anglicare continue to provide advocacy and essential support to those in crisis, the severity of the current housing situation is staggering, and for renters the situation is not improving.

We remain hopeful that state and federal governments will support community services in meeting immediate demand by increasing funding for specialist crisis and homelessness services now, while simultaneously working to find lasting and sustainable solutions to address the underlying housing problem.

For further information about Anglicare’s Rental Affordability Snapshot, or to request access to an Anglicare spokesperson, contact 02 6245 7100.

*Rumbel, L. (2024, February 28) Goulburn Region Rental Market: Prices surge by 40 per cent in 5 years. Goulburn Post. https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/8529294/rising-rental-prices-in-goulburn-region-insights-and-trends/