Growing number of Northern Rivers youths unable to find housing without charity help

More and more young people are finding it impossible to get housing. But this teenager’s determination helped her siblings escape domestic violence and their parents’ drug and alcohol problems.

Saphire has successfully secured housing for herself and her two siblings.

It is tougher than ever for young people on the Northern Rivers to find rentals, especially if there are challenging extenuating circumstances.

Take for instance, 19-year-old Lismore teen Saphire, who is part-time head of house for a younger brother, 16, and sister, 13.

Halfway through year 10, domestic violence and her parents’ drug and alcohol problems found her without somewhere safe to call home.

In the months that followed, Saphire struggled to find secure accommodation and she had to take a break from school.

The hardship to find housing is one many can relate to.

According to the Anglicare Rental Affordability Snapshot, out of 74,266 rental listings posted in April, none were affordable for people on the Youth Allowance and just three were affordable to people on Job Seeker.

On the Northern Rivers, the situation is even more acute, with the rate of rental properties available at record lows.

In such a competitive market, finding landlords and real estate agents willing to even consider a young person for housing is a challenge, according to Northern Rivers not-for-profit organisation Social Futures.

It was why they had paired up with Saphire to help her with their Rental Choice Youth Subsidy program.

Opportunity Pathways program was one of the services supporting Saphire .Credit: Social Futures

The subsidy, an initiative of the Department of Communities and Justice, helps young people afford to move into the private rental market by subsidising some of the rent.

Living in temporary housing, Saphire met Connecting Home Youth program worker Lucie who acknowledged finding sustainable housing options for Northern Rivers youth was growing near impossible.

“Of the 20 young people housed through the Rental Choices Youth program in Lismore, only one young person was able to find housing on their own,” she said.

Instead, she and the team from Social Futures work to build relationships with estate agents.

Given their knowledge of participants, they can make recommendations to the agents that carry weight.

“Finding stable and secure housing is not, in itself, going to solve the kinds of problems Saphire was facing. But without a stable place to call home, it’s incredibly difficult for young people to develop the skills they need to navigate in the community,” Lucie said.

Eventually, Lucie was able to help Saphire into a home and her siblings were able to join her.

Saphire also completed her leaving certificate at TAFE, gain a CERT III in child care, and now has been offered the chance to become a full-time trainee.

“In 10 years I want to have a full-time job and be saving a lot. I do want to buy a house, rather than rent,” Saphire said.

“I’m very happy we are where we are now, compared to a few years ago.”

It was a testament to the security and positive change housing could offer.

“She’s shown amazing growth and has come so far,” Lucie said.

“I’ve seen her grow up over the last couple of years and it has been a privilege to be a part of that.”