THE RECENT property boom and the ensuing lack of rental properties, caused by an influx of people moving out of cities and into rural and regional areas, is driving a rise in homelessness.
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The reason is simple, says South West Rocks' Michelle Stokes, Samaritans community services manager Child, Youth and Families MNC - there is just not enough affordable housing to meet the demand.
"This is probably the biggest housing crisis that our service, and I could confidently speak on behalf of other service providers, has ever experienced, certainly in the five years I've worked across the homelessness space on the Mid North Coast," Michelle said.
"We've never seen such a shortage and whatever is available is so unaffordable you might as well consider it a non-existent option.
"It's beyond crisis."
Exacerbating the situation, Michelle said, is landlords selling up investment properties because of inflated prices.
"There is less (housing) stock but more people are applying. We've had examples of 60 people putting in applications for one property," she said.
The housing market is currently so competitive that rents have also been going up.
"Then throw in fire and floods, it's just one vicious cycle after another unfortunately," Michelle said.
We've never seen such a shortage and whatever is available is so unaffordable you might as well consider it a non-existent option. It's beyond crisis.
- Michelle Stokes, Samaritans
The Real Estate Institute of NSW shows that the vacancy rate for the Mid North Coast is currently one per cent, compared to a rate of 3.2 per cent vacancy rate in May, 2020.
The numbers of people accessing the Samaritans for help in April this year spiked.
"The numbers are absolutely astronomical," Michelle said.
The majority of people who have been left homeless who are not sleeping rough or have been sought assistance from the Samaritans are sleeping in their cars or couch surfing.
What is needed, Michelle said, is more housing stock.
"More stock would have to be affordable stock. And that is, in essence, social housing. Until we get a lot more social housing built in all regions up and down the whole of the Mid North Coast, homelessness services will continue to be pushed into supporting people."
According to Government figures, the expected waiting time general applicants face for social housing in the Kempsey zone is:
- One bedroom home - 5 to 10 years
- Two bedroom home - five to 10 years
- Three bedroom home - 2 to 5 years
- Four-plus bedroom home - 10-plus years.
Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times since 2014. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times since 2014. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings.
