RENTAL affordability in Frankston has hit historic lows, according to new data from the Department of Human Services.
Reports for the December quarter show private rental affordability is on a steady decline in Frankston as the housing affordability ‘crisis’ creeps to the outer suburbs.
“People on very low incomes are being pushed out of the private rental market, and have very few accommodation options left because there’s insufficient public housing,” Council to Homeless Persons CEO Jenny Smith said.
“Consequently we’re seeing more ‘rough’ sleeping, as well as hidden forms of homelessness.”
Ms Smith said the data “painted a pretty dire picture for people on low incomes trying to get into private rental or public housing”.
It shows there were only two one-bedroom rentals affordable to a Newstart recipient last quarter in Frankston.
“And yet, when we look at public housing waiting lists in the Frankston region, it’s clear that there is not enough public housing for the most vulnerable people.”
Ms Smith said 1807 people were waiting for public housing in the Bayside/Peninsula (Frankston) region.
“In our state Budget submission, CHP has called for 10,000 more one-bedroom public housing dwellings over the next five years,” she said.
“With the current spate of announcements from the state government on initiatives that will boost housing affordability, we are now waiting on the federal government to reveal its plans to increase social housing for those on low incomes.”
The DHS Rent report, for December 2016, shows the number of one- and two-bedroom rental properties that would be affordable to a single person on a Centrelink pension in Frankston.
In 2011 the figure for a one-bedroom property was none; in 2015 it was two and last year it was again two.
The figure for two bedroom properties was 43 in 2011; 35 in 2015 and 24 last year.
The figure for all rentals was steadily trending down, from 220 in 2011; 174 in 2015 and 111 last year.
Ms Smith said: “We must join the dots between housing affordability and homelessness, and rental affordability is key.”
