Group hardest hit by rental crisis revealed

The critical impact of the rental crisis on one particular group of Aussies has been laid bare.

There’s a group of young people that are being locked out of the private rental market. Picture: Adam Yip

The critical impacts of the rental crisis on young people leaving foster and kinship care have been laid bare.

Startling research from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) reveals 54 per cent of young people leaving Out-Of-Home-Care (OOHC) services experience homelessness within four years.

According to NSW youth homelessness peak body Yfoundations, the simple answer when it comes to the rental market for these young people is “there’s nothing there”.

“A young person leaving out of home care at 21 … unless they have a job that’s well into six figures they won’t be able to afford the private rental market,” Yfoundations chief executive officer Trish Connolly said.

Yfoundations CEO Trish Connolly

More and more young adults leaving out of home care services are faced with homelessness.

MORE

Stumble out of the blocks: The Block Team demolishes wrong room

Sydney’s ‘most recognisable pub’ for sale

“I have heard about young people leaving group homes as the rent has been increased too much. The greed of landlords is outrageous, there’s no cap on rents.

“We can’t even talk about young people in out of home care and the rental market.”

She paints a moving picture revealing the harsh reality faced by many young people coming out of the system.

“Imagine you are standing in the long queues on a weekend competing for the elusive private rental property that might be in your price range, and you have absolutely no chance of scoring this property because you’re on youth allowance or a minimal wage and everyone around you has a secure and well-paying job.

“Then imagine you are homeless and have nowhere to sleep tonight because the crisis refuge hasn’t got a bed for you.

Lineup of people wanting to view a rental property in Paddington. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Then imagine the frontline youth homelessness service provider can only offer you a tent or a sleeping bag to sleep out the front of their service because it just might be safer than sleeping in the park. Or imagine you can couch surf tonight but you have to offer sex in return?

Then imagine, in the long term, there is absolutely no way social housing will be available for you because young people are rarely prioritised. That’s how the critical housing shortage impacts on young people – not just in NSW but everywhere in Australia right now.”

Professional Individualised Care (PIC) founder Jarrod Wheatley said “we rely on the private rental market to support these young adults”.

Professional Individualised Care (PIC) founder Jarrod Wheatley.

MORE: Bizarre bid that broke a Sydney record

Sydney’s 6 most affordable and liveable suburbs for renters

Glorious MAFS mansion makes $16m in just three years

“We need landlords to give people a go,” he said.

PIC is an alternative service to OOHC that promotes stable relationships for young people unable to live at home.

Mr Wheatley’s service sources professionals as carers that can form strong connections and “real relationships” that carry through after young people leave the service.

“What keeps kids safe is stable adult relationships,” he said. “I can find the experts but we can’t do it alone.

“We rely on the private rental market for support. Landlords have also got an important role to play. Giving someone that leg up can be pivotal for the rest of their lives.

“What does it look like if we don’t step in? Leaving them to go straight into homelessness is not an option. It requires a collective response.”

Mr Wheatley says landlords need to give young people leaving OOHC a go. .

Mr Wheatley said while landlords may not view a young person leaving OOHC as a “desirable” option, it could change someone’s life.

“That would be a huge service to society,” he said. “It’s an asset that can transform someone’s life. It’s about building a whole of life approach. We have so much to gain if we get this right. Landlords can speak to their managing agents about these options.”

Ms Connolly said there was an “unsettling connection” between OOHC leavers and homelessness.

“We have data about rough sleepers with a considerable proportion from OOHC,” she said.

She said better services were needed to help these young people who have been dealt “the worst cards possible” in life and often come from significant trauma.

“You need to give them the Rolls Royce version of care that can carry through when they leave,” she said.

Yfoundations recently launched a petition to calling on the Australian Government for a stand-alone national child and youth homelessness and housing strategy.

She said more affordable and social housing needed to be set aside by the government to help young people transitioning from OOHC.

“We need more housing going to them so they can have a couple of years respite to get jobs and on their feet,” she said.

MORE: Emotional tale of Sam Kerr and her childhood home

Originally published as Group hardest hit by rental crisis revealed