Rental affordability hits record lows in Geelong, driving youth homelessness and housing stress

The eye-opening surge in Geelong’s rental prices over the past two decades has been revealed, leading to an increase in young people and families facing an immediate threat of homelessness.

GEELONG is in the midst of a rental affordability crisis. New data has revealed there has never been fewer affordable rentals in the region as median rental prices reach record heights – having tripled since 2000. And with about 200 young people experiencing or at immediate risk of homelessness on any given night in Geelong, experts fear the increasingly unattainable rental market will fuel youth homelessness. HARRISON TIPPET reports.

It feels like the walls are closing in on Tayla-Jayne Berry-Coon.

She’s 21 and living in transitional housing in Whittington with her partner and their three children, Darcy, 4, Deacon, 2, and eight-week-old Zaylee-Jayne.

It’s a “beautiful house” and “perfect” for what the family needs, Ms Berry-Coon says, as she sits at the dining room table with her light-auburn hair tied back and newborn held securely to her hip, backlit by the sunshine erupting through the window behind her.

But, it is only temporary.

The family will be forced to leave in July whether their search of almost 18-months for a rental property is successful or not.

Tayla-Jayne Berry-Coon with Darcy, Zaylee-Jayne and Deacon at the BCYF headquarters, where she has been helped to access transitional housing.

This July deadline, and the absence of any affordable rentals available to the young family, is what feeds the sense of claustrophobia growing in Ms Berry-Coon’s gut.

“It’s scary,” she says, softly. “It’s actually really scary.”

“That’s the hardest thing, knowing that in July we have to be out of this house, but are we going to have another one? Are we going to be able to have somewhere to house our family?

“Finding something that’s suitable for three children and two adults in our price range is one of the most stressful and hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I’ve had tears, I’ve had anger, I’ve had everything.

“The fear is becoming homeless with the children, and not having anywhere to live. Because we’ve got no rental history so we’re at the bottom of the pack, or because we don’t have enough money for a house.”

Ms Berry-Coon and her factory worker partner bring in more income than they would earn on Centrelink, yet after almost 18 months of searching they have been unable to find a three-bedroom – or even a two-bedroom – rental property within their financial reach.

RENTAL affordability in Geelong has been in free fall since the turn of the century, driving more and more residents – particularly youths and young families such as Ms Berry-Coon’s – into housing stress and homelessness.

The state government’s latest Victorian Rental Report this week revealed just 12.2 per cent (235 properties) of all rental properties which went to market in the December quarter of 2021 were considered affordable – costing no more than 30 per cent of the gross income of a low-income household.

Geelong's median rent has skyrocketed since 2000

It is the second lowest percentage and number of affordable properties in the local government area on record, with the report going back to 2000 – when 1023 properties (73.5 per cent) were affordable in the December quarter.

The four quarters of 2021 represent the four lowest percentages of affordable rentals in Geelong on record, with the worst in September 2021, when just 11.5 per cent rental properties were affordable.

The Victorian Rental Report also revealed the median rental price in the Geelong region hit a record $395 a week in the December quarter, an increase of about 40 per cent on the 2011 median of $285- and a 182 per cent jump on December 2000 median of $140.

The cheapest rentals in Geelong – single-bedroom flats – are also the least available, with just 3.5 per cent (five properties) of those on the market in the December 2021 quarter considered affordable.

MS BERRY-COON’S fear of experiencing homelessness is no exaggeration, with key housing services warning regional Victoria’s rental affordability crisis is already fuelling homelessness for youths and young families.

“Rising rents and low vacancy rates are pushing more young people into homelessness because they simply can’t find a rental they can afford,” Council to Homeless Persons chief executive Jenny Smith said this week.

“Generally young people earn less, are more likely to be in casual work, and receive less income support. So when rents rise, they really feel the pinch.”

Barwon Child, Youth and Family (BCYF), which provides homelessness support for young people aged from 10 to 25 across the Barwon South-West Region of Victoria, assists about 1200 young people seeking homelessness support every year.

And it’s a number which is constantly growing, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

BCYF Youth Services Manager Mandy Baxter this week revealed the service experienced a 60 per cent increase in young people seeking emergency housing support over the past 12 months – for the second year in a row.

Young people are often hit harder by rent rises, Council to Homeless Person CEO Jenny Smith warned. Picture: Josie Hayden

“On any given night in the region, there are approximately 200 young people on the BCYF waitlist, who are experiencing, or at risk of homelessness,” Ms Baxter said.

“We are seeing that for many young people and families, securing affordable housing in the private rental market has become unaffordable and unattainable.”

While youth homelessness is rising in lock-step with skyrocketing rental prices in the Barwon region, it is not a problem that is exclusive to the area.

A 2020-21 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare specialist homelessness services annual report found 278,300 people accessed homelessness services across the country last financial year, of which 42.6 per cent were younger than 25.

It also revealed about 41,700 people aged 15–24 presented alone to Specialist Homelessness Services in that time – with half already experiencing homelessness.

The figures came only months after national campaign to end homelessness Everybody’s Home last year warned youth homelessness was being exacerbated by the rental affordability crisis.

Tayla-Jayne Berry-Coon is hopeful is she will be able to find affordable rental before July.

“Young people who are forced to leave their homes, or are left without homes through no fault of their own, cannot simply get a job that pays them enough to afford adequate accommodation,” Everybody’s Home national spokesman Kate Colvin said.

“The housing affordability crisis is even more dire for those on Youth Allowance. A person on Youth Allowance looking for a share house can afford less than one per cent of rentals. Across all of Australia, just four rental listings out of 77,000 in December last year were affordable to someone on Youth Allowance.”

Her solution, and one spruiked by most in the sector, is that an urgent investment into social housing is a key measure to help end youth homelessness.

Social housing provision has begun to pick up the pace in Geelong, with the State Government’s $5.3b Big Housing Build program to boost the supply of social housing directing at least $180m to Geelong projects.

But, the work will need to continue quickly, with the City of Greater Geelong’s 2020 Social Housing Plan estimated another 13,500 new social housing dwellings will be needed by 2041 – with a further 1500 ageing public housing dwellings needing to be replaced in that time – to prevent a potential surge in homelessness.

If you are experiencing, or at risk, of homelessness, this 24-hour Victorian hotline can help: 1800 825 955.

Young people and their families can find out more about BCYF’s range of Youth Services online at bcyf.org.au/youth-services/youth-homelessness and access these supports by calling 5226 8900.

Originally published as Rental affordability hits record lows in Geelong, driving youth homelessness and housing stress