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Community service organisations in Victoria are worried that the rising cost of living and housing affordability will see a new demographic of residents needing support.
Key points:
- Young people and families are among the growing cohort of residents needing support
- Housing assistance is limited and that problem is worse in tourist towns
- Young people are raising cost-of-living concerns with advocacy groups in the lead-up to the federal election
Echuca Neighbourhood House coordinator Sarah Peake is concerned by the number of young people and families seeking help amid the housing boom.
"We're providing food relief and we thought we knew what busy was [during lockdowns]," she said.
"But then we saw the housing prices go up, rental prices go up and the whole housing market has exploded.
"We've had all these younger people go out and purchase their first homes and I think those interest rates are going to wreak a bit of havoc.
'Right where it hurts'
Youth Affairs Council Victoria chief executive Katherine Ellis says many young people are "just trying to get by".
"I think everywhere young people are really concerned about the rising cost of living," she said.
"Young people in rural and regional areas have so much more on their plate as well, it's only adding to their distress and the challenges they're facing.
"Young people are like anyone else in society — they're having to put petrol in their cars, buy groceries and they're part of families that are having to do those things.
"At the same time, nobody's getting any payrises and in fact, a lot of people are surviving on really low incomes.
"There are a lot of things on young people's minds and cost of living is definitely hitting them right where it hurts."
'Massive strain'
Ms Peake said housing was a major issue for young families.
"We had a young couple turn up — a mum and dad with three kids who were long-time renters and they're now couch surfing with their children out at Boort, which is over an hour away from here," she said.
"The dad lost his job because of the pandemic and they were struggling with the fact they were staying at a Boort and trying to drive into town.
"They actually came here for food relief, and then wanted to know if I could give any suggestions on emergency accommodation or where they could go.
"It's just insane — the stories I can tell you of what we've seen and witnessed here is people under massive strain.
'Zero options'
Haven; Home, Safe general manager for support services north Donna Gillard says there is only access to one hotel and one motel in Echuca.
During peak tourism times she says there are "zero options" for accommodation.
"Understandably, it's a business for these providers, so they choose tourism over some of our clients," she said.
Ms Gillard said the housing boom was also influencing who needed emergency accommodation and housing assistance.
"People … are having notices to vacate because investment properties have been sold," she said.
"We're also starting to see people who are presenting for rental arrears because they've had a rent increase, but the rent increase has gone beyond their affordability.