Australia’s housing affordability crisis is threatening society’s most vulnerable members with destitution, according to a new survey from the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army’s Economic Social Impact Survey, released last month, makes it clear that the rising cost of housing is causing many ordinary Australians to suffer. Among the most vulnerable are single mothers, who’re forced to go without food and medications in order to put a roof over their children.  

Meanwhile, 69% of the survey’s respondents were not getting enough to eat; 66% were living in housing stress, spending more than half their income on rent; 36% said they were unable to afford any kind of medical treatment; 39% said they cannot afford fresh fruit or vegetables every day; and 56% said they cannot afford to let their children do afterschool activities.  

Mortgages and rents are ballooning in metropolitan Sydney and Melbourne, in large part due to the speculative activities of wealthy foreign and local investors.

“They’re living off less than $15 a day to support themselves and family, and what that means is people are making challenging decisions like, ‘Do I turn on the heater, do I put food on the table, do I fill this script for my medical needs?’” Nathan Moulds, community home team leader at the Salvation Army (Macquarie Park), told A Current Affair.

“They don't have savings or the financial capacity to support themselves in a crisis because they literally have $15 a day to support themselves. Many, many Australians, and a growing group who are experiencing this inequality, are finding themselves locked out of this Aussie dream of the lucky country, of the Aussie fair go,” Moulds said.

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