THERE is no affordable or appropriate rental housing in Ballarat for families on income support, a new Anglicare Victoria report has revealed.
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The report on rental affordability by Anglicare Victoria shows that for a couple with two children on Newstart there were zero affordable and appropriate rentals. The situation was the same for a single parent with two children.
Anglicare Victoria Ballarat Diocese manager Geoff Ryan said in the past couple of years the organisation had seen an increase in the number of people looking for accommodation.
“We are seeing a growing number of people coming in who are finding it very difficult to find accommodation they can afford,” Mr Ryan said.
“Often they are on some sort of a pension or a Health Care Card. And they seem to be looking in lots of directions and seeking help but there seems to be very little help available.
“The effect it has on people can’t be underestimated. It is pretty depressing struggling to even have a roof over your head.”
Mr Ryan said the problem was a lack of housing stock aimed at the low socio-economic sector.
According to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria’s March rental vacancy rate update, when compared to Geelong and Bendigo, Ballarat has the lowest level of vacancies.
REIV chief executive Enzo Raimondo said Ballarat’s current vacancy rate was 0.5 per cent, compared to 1.3 per cent three months ago.
The Anglicare report also showed that being on a minimum wage was a greater advantage for Ballarat residents than for those in greater Melbourne.
