Logan’s most vulnerable are being “left behind” by unaffordable housing as the city records Queensland’s largest spike in homelessness.
A new analysis of rentals across the state over the last year found there were only two affordable and appropriate homes in Logan for people surviving on income support.
For most single parents and families living on JobSeeker, the disability pension or Youth Allowance, there were zero affordable or appropriate homes.
According to the Anglicare Southern Queensland report, the current median price of rentals consumes anywhere between 39% and 107% of income for people on welfare payments.
The best off are age pensioners, and the worst off are single adults on Youth Allowance.
People on disability pensions are losing 59% of their income to rent, single parents with two children losing 65%, and single job seekers losing 89%.
Anything higher than 30% of income is deemed unaffordable.
‘Appropriate’ is determined by the number of bedrooms and the type of dwelling. For example, it would not be appropriate for a couple with two children to rent a singular bedroom in a sharehouse.
“The lack of safe, affordable and appropriate housing is not just a housing issue – it’s a community issue and it’s one that becomes a greater problem each year,” Anglicare Southern Queensland CEO Sue Cooke said.
“We’re seeing more of our most exposed citizens – our youth, young families and single mothers – being the ones hardest hit by the lack of affordable and accessible housing.
“The human cost of rental stress and unaffordable housing is huge, and it’s a key driver of homelessness.”
The report shows locals who are unable to secure housing can be forced into couch surfing, unsafe accommodation or remaining in situations of family violence.
Meanwhile, the same report found the number of homeless in Logan grew more than any other region in Queensland between 2016 and 2021 – 49%.
Logan is the youngest city in Queensland, with almost 50% of residents aged 30 years or younger, and less than 8% of residents aged over 60 years.
Of the hundreds – and almost thousands – of homeless who live here, more than 30% are aged between 14 and 24.
With fears this figure is increasing, Anglicare in April started construction on a $14 million youth homelessness accommodation at Beenleigh.
Housing up to around 40 local young people, the facility will also provide other support services.
“… but when you look at the data, this is a drop in the ocean for what’s needed,” Ms Cooke said.
“Our concern is, with the rental affordability issue deepening each year, unless there is immediate and concerted government action, important efforts such as the youth homelessness build will be barely a dent in the size of the problem.”
Barbara Longford from All Suburbs Real Estate at Marsden said her office didn’t believe there was a rental shortage anymore.
“It is an affordability shortage,” she said.
“We are finding people can’t afford it… Everything is going up – rent, petrol, food – but wages don’t.”
Anglicare Southern Queensland called on all levels of government to act, as the “time for talk is over”.
“While governments have made some progress to address the homelessness issues in Queensland, more needs to be done,” Ms Cooke said.
“Anglicare Southern Queensland is calling for an immediate increase in investment in social and affordable housing, particularly for young people.
“The JobSeeker and Youth Allowance rates must be increased to the same level as the pension.
“Routine indexation increases are clearly insufficient to cover even basics such as housing, food, bills and transport – more so than ever in this cost-of-living crisis.”
