Gold Coast homelessness: Princess David Buncombe another victim of rental crisis
Surfers Paradise icon, David Buncombe – or as he’s better known, Princess, will be on the street for Christmas, another victim of the Gold Coast’s savage rental crisis.
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A Glitter Strip icon has become another victim of the Gold Coast’s rental crisis.
Bikini-clad Surfers Paradise identity David ‘Princess’ Buncombe has been part of the community for 20 years, but has spent much of this time on the street.
In October, long-time resident and businessman Daniel Yelkovan offered to donate money to help Princess to rent an apartment close by.
But more than a month on, Princess is still living on the street as Christmas looms.
Mr Yelkovan and friend Chrisy Rodrigues issued a plea for help on a Surfers Paradise Facebook community group earlier this week.
“We’re after a compassionate owner who is willing to accept $500 per week rent and a professional cleaner to cover any concern each week to help get Princess into a unit and off the streets into a safe place,” the Facebook post said.
The Bulletin has contacted Mr Yelkovan for comment.
In October, Princess welcomed the support from the community.
“It’s nice,” Princess told the Bulletin at the time.
“I’m excited to have a roof over my head.”
Princess receives a disability pension and was understood to have been evicted from previous accommodation for refusing to wear pants.
Picking up the pieces: Plan crowned to help bikini Princess - October 28
KNOWN throughout the Gold Coast, this iconic bikini 'Princess' of Surfers Paradise has been given a helping hand to find a home fit for royalty.
Surfers Paradise identity David “Princess” Buncombe has been part of the community for 20 years, but has spent much of this time on the street.
After years of seeing Princess sleeping rough, long-time resident and businessman Daniel Yelkovan decided to take action.
“As a private citizen, I’m trying to pick up the pieces of what the government has failed to do,” Mr Yelkovan said.
“The reason why I’m helping is, I’m trying to look after my own backyard.”
The Ri-Kroot business owner has offered to donate $15,000 each year to help Princess rent an apartment close by.
The bikini icon receives a disability pension and was understood to have been evicted from previous accommodation for refusing to wear pants.
Princess has welcomed the support from Mr Yelkovan.
“It’s nice,” Princess said. “I’m excited to have a roof over my head.”
St John’s Crisis Centre general manager Dianne Kozik said she hoped this would be a permanent solution for Princess.
“At the end of the day, it’s the lack of social and affordable housing that needs to be addressed,” she said.
'Out of control': Coast family living in trailer as rents skyrocket - October 16
A HOMELESS family spent most of the week trying to stay dry after torrential rain flooded their camp site, forcing them to “drop their pride” and ask the community for help.
The Kochner family have joined hundreds of other Gold Coasters priced out of the rental market and are begging the state and federal governments to do something about it.
A Mudgeeraba resident of more than 20 years, Kelly Kochner was recently forced to move her young family of six into a camper trailer because she was unable to afford a rental.
Despite their camp being flooded, Ms Kochner said she had to find other accommodation after they were charged $420 for a week’s stay at a campground.
“That was our previous rental price minus $10,” she said.
With nowhere else to turn, the family reached out to a Mudgeeraba Facebook community page for help.
“We are very lucky. A beautiful person off the community Facebook page has put us up for seven night’s accommodation in Burleigh,” she said.
“We’ve been saved from the torrential rain because our campsite is underwater.
“We don’t know what we’ll do after the seven days, but at least we’ve got protection from this really bad weather.”
Ms Kochner described the rental market as “completely out of control” and “terrifying”.
“Even as a family with two adults working full-time, you can’t afford to live on the Gold Coast anymore,” she said.
“The community services (are) so overwhelmed because there are homeless families the services can’t help.
“Governments need to get behind helping the people stuck in these situations.”
First National Mudgeeraba principal Murray Duthie said his staff had been verbally abused and listened to people “desperate” for a rental in tears over the phone.
It was common for 30 families to show up for one rental inspection, he said.
“There’s a lot of very good people living in tents right now,” Mr Duthie said.
“The rental market has become almost unaffordable for a lot of people.
“We’re fielding calls from people in desperate situations and you can only help so many out.”
Experts and political leaders have pointed to a perfect storm of factors which have left entire towns and cities where people outnumber the amount of property available – putting our most vulnerable at risk.
These factors include a lack of social housing available, the arrival of Australians from overseas post-Covid, interstate migration, low interest rates and homebuyer incentives.
Rent for average homes in the northern suburbs have skyrocketed up to $160 a week.
A family house in Upper Coomera can fetch $720 a week.
Mr Duthie urged state and federal governments to work together to tackle the issue of rental affordability and to offer more incentives for people to buy investment properties.
Harcourts Mudgeeraba director Lyn Newcomb said families priced out of certain Gold Coast suburbs were now being forced to look elsewhere for a place to live.
“Five years ago or three years ago, Mudgeeraba was a place where you might be able to afford. But now it’s a premium location for people,” she said.
“There’s very little renters can apply for in Mudgeeraba for under $600 a week.”
Where to find cheap rentals on Gold Coast - September 14
Finding a rental property can be hard work in the current market – and it’s even tougher if you’re on a budget.
Lack of available housing stock and southerners fleeing to the Coast during Covid has created a perfect storm in the housing market.
But there are still some options out there if you’re on the lookout for a cheap rental in Surfers Paradise, Southport and Labrador.
Southport
Address: 1/151 Johnston St, Southport
Price: $450/wk
Property type: Duplex/semi-detached
Details: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 car space
Real Estate: Ray White Southport
Address: 96 Pohlman St, Southport
Price: $450/wk
Property type: Townhouse
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 car spaces
Real Estate: Main Beach Property Sales
Address: 2/15 Railway St, Southport
Price: $250/wk
Property type: Unit
Details: 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms
Real Estate: LJ Hooker Southport
Address: 5/36 Nerang St, Southport
Price: $270/wk
Property type: Other
Details: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Real Estate: Professionals Southport
Address: 3/5 North St, Southport
Price: $350/wk
Property type: Unit
Details: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 car space
Real Estate: First National Broadbeach
Surfers Paradise
Address: 7/23 Thomas Dr, Surfers Paradise
Price: $550/wk
Property type: Apartment
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 car space
Real Estate: Ray White Southport
Address: 510 ‘Top of the Mark Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise
Price: $550/wk
Property type: Apartment
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 car space
Real Estate: First National Real Estate Surfers Paradise
Address: 4/14 Leonard Ave, Surfers Paradise
Price: $335/wk
Property type: Apartment
Details: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 car space
Real Estate: First National Real Estate Surfers Paradise
Address: 5/5 Watson Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
Price: $370/wk
Property type: Apartment
Details: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 car space
Real Estate: First National Real Estate Surfers Paradise
Address: 23 / 2877 Gold Coast Hwy, Surfers Paradise
Price: $265/wk
Property type: Unit
Details: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 car space
Real Estate: First National Centrepoint
Labrador
Address: 5/175 Government Road, Labrador
Price: $400/wk
Property type: Villa
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 car space
Real Estate: Little Real Estate
Address: 1/2 Burwood Ct, Labrador
Price: $440
Property type: Duplex/semi-detached
Details: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 car spaces
Real Estate: Fin Realty Paradise Point
Address: 2/46 Botanical Dr, Labrador
Price: $440/wk
Property type: Duplex/semi-detached
Details: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 car space
Real Estate: Hillsea Real Estate
Address: 2/8 Teresa Easement, Labrador
Price: $310/wk
Property type: Duplex/semi-detached
Details: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, two car spaces
Real Estate: Little Real Estate
Address: 3904672/7 Brown St, Labrador
Price: $200/wk
Property type: Townhouse
Details: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 car space
Real Estate: The Onsite Manager
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