National Homelessness Week highlights regional towns’ struggles
By Kirra Livingstone
NATIONAL Homelessness Week kicks off this week, highlighting the increasingly dire conditions that the cost of living pressure is placing on Australians.
A new study conducted by Orange Sky found regional Aussies remain most vulnerable to cost rises, with over three in five people struggling to make ends meet annually, compared to half of people in capital cities.
The current cost of living crisis is contributing to the homelessness epidemic, with one in three people living in regional Australia having to dip into their savings to pay for basic expenses while one in five have to choose between essential spends.
On the Sunshine Coast there is an estimated 1,205 people sleeping rough every night, which is a 54 per cent increase from the 2016 Census. Both renters and those with a mortgage are struggling, the report shows.
Sunshine Coast rental vacancy rates are at 1.4 per cent – highlighting the low availability and strong demand – while weekly rents have increased by 7.2 per cent over 12 months.
Mortgage prices have also witnessed a staggering rise, with record increases in interest rates over the past 18 months.
Orange Sky Australia is an organisation that helps people by washing their clothes for free at various laundry van points across the country.
Sunshine Coast Orange Sky volunteer, Lesley Kelly, said it’s more than that for some people.
“When we pull up in our van to set up for a shift, one of the first things we do is set up six orange chairs, which represent so much more than a seat to rest your feet,” she said.
“Members of the community might come to put on a load of laundry or warm up with a shower, but often they stay to sit down and have a chat.
Orange Sky volunteer, Mary-Anne Cahill, said demand for their services is increasing as the cost of living crisis worsens.
“Our shifts have become busier. We are seeing more people living in cars, we are noticing more women in cars and more families coming in for support,” she said. “New friends are saying they can no longer provide for their families, using Orange Sky’s services are a way for them to save money that they can now use for food and having clean clothes is so important to feeling like they can cope.”
kirra@gcnews.com.au
