NTCOSS Cost of Living report finds more Territorians are on the brink of homelessness

Territorians are being pushed to the brink of homelessness by the rising cost of basic necessities, transportation and rent, according to a damning new report.

Anglicare NT co-ordinator Microfinance & Financial Counselling Jodie Rowe. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Territorians are being pushed to the brink of homelessness by the rising cost of basic necessities, transportation and rent, according to a damning new report.

The latest NT Council of Social Services Cost of Living report has found that Darwin and Alice Springs are among the most expensive places to live in the country.

It said Territorians are paying the third highest weekly rents in the nation, behind only New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

It found the average inner Darwin three-bedroom home has a median rent of $680 a week, Palmerston and Alice Springs homes were going for $560, with Katherine at $500.

The NTCOSS report said a mother-of-two on Jobseeker would have to spend more than 80 per cent of her income to rent a home in inner Darwin.

NTCOSS's 2024 Cost of Living report said private rent for three-bedroom houses had remained relatively steady in most regions of the Northern Territory, which has historically recorded extremely high rents.

If she was on minimum wage, half her wage would just go to keeping a roof over their heads.

An analysis of 577 private rentals advertised across the Territory in March found none were affordable to a single person on a disability support pension, or a parenting payment.

Only five homes were suitable for a Territorian on an income support payment, while 46 were affordable for a family with two parents on a minimum wage.

Anglicare NT co-ordinator Microfinance & Financial Counselling Jodie Rowe. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Anglicare NT microfinance and financial counselling co-ordinator Jodie Rowe said the rising cost of living meant people were “one unexpected expense away from that risk of homelessness”.

Ms Rowe said there had been a 21 per cent increase to the number of Territorians calling the National Debt Hotline over the past 12 months, with the service responding to 959 calls in January to February 2024.

Ms Rowe said the rising cost of living pressure meant some of her clients were skipping meals or not refuelling their cars just to keep up with their rent.

“It could be an unexpected car repair, or it could be that their child is sick and they’ve used up all their carers leave,” she said.

“They’re missing a payday and they haven’t got anything in reserves to meet their rent.”

She said with almost two months left of the financial year, Anglicare NT had run out of emergency relief vouchers for food and fuel payments.

NTCOSS chief executive Sally Sievers. Picture: Therese Ritchie

NTCOSS chief executive Sally Sievers said while everyone was feeling the pinch of higher prices, it was Territorians on the lowest incomes who would be hit hardest.

“(They) feel the effects the most and continue to struggle to afford the basics in supposedly one of the wealthiest nations on the planet,” Ms Sievers said.

Ahead of next week’s budget NTCOSS has called for an increase to Jobseeker and other income support payments to a minium of $80 a day, better rental protections, and yearly indexation of NT Motor Vehicle Registration concessions.