Rental crisis pushes QLD family of eight to live in tent

Their 4yo daughter is supposed to begin primary school but can't be enrolled because she doesn’t have a permanent address.

For over six months, a young family of eight from Queensland has been living in a tent due to the worsening rental crisis.

Cameron and Tameka Fletchers, along with their six children, never imagined they would find themselves raising their family in a suburban park north of Brisbane. 

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“We’ve always had a house”

Despite calling and emailing Queensland's Housing Department, they have yet to receive a response.

“We've always had a house,” Mr Fletchers told 9News.

“We've never done this before, so this is new to us.”

Next year, their four-year-old daughter is supposed to begin primary school, but the family can't enrol her because they don't have a permanent address. 

This couple, parents to six children aged between one and ten, is among many families who have been compelled to live in tents due to the historically low vacancy rates.

Mr Fletchers added, “Everyone here is going through the same thing.”

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“We've never done this before, so this is new to us.” Source: 9News

Doing their best

Daily responsibilities like preparing breakfast for their children, finding ways to keep the younger ones entertained, and managing laundry are constant battles.

'We've had to buy these solar camping showers from Kmart,' Ms Fletchers revealed. 

Although the family is grateful for the opportunity to relocate to a three-bedroom house, the Department of Housing insists on offering them a five-bedroom property.

According to a spokesperson from the department, they have been assisting the family since last September, providing various housing options, one of which the family decided to leave.

'As we've been assisting them to find longer-term options, they have declined further offers of accommodation,' the statement read. 

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A red-tape nightmare

However the family stated this wasn’t true.

“We've been pretty much shut out since last September when we first applied to get help. They don't reply to messages, emails, nothing,” Ms Fletchers said. 

According to Mr. Fletchers, the best option for receiving assistance is to set up a tent at a nearby campsite. 

The department mentioned that certain eligibility criteria must be fulfilled to qualify for social housing, such as meeting specific income thresholds.

“However, the department continues to work with the family to find a private rental and give any other support they might need,” a spokesperson explained. 

“Tent city”

Just weeks after a 'tent city' appeared in Brisbane's south due to an increasing number of renters struggling to find affordable housing, another similar settlement has emerged. In Musgrave Park, adjacent to the city's Southbank tourist precinct, more than 60 tents are now home to people in need of permanent accommodation.

The rental vacancy rate across Australia stands at a shocking 1 per cent, indicating that the demand for rental properties far exceeds the available supply. This has resulted in a sharp increase in rental prices.

In Australia's capital cities, annual rent growth slowed from 17.8 per cent in 2022 to 13.2 per cent in 2023 and from 11.6 per cent to 4.2 per cent in regional areas.

Property investors have largely withdrawn from the market, and although there has been some recovery, it has not been sufficient to replenish the depleted housing stock. 

Consequently, rental vacancies have remained at near-record lows of 1.1 per cent, down from 1.3 per cent in December 2022, driving prices even higher.

RELATED: 'I had to move interstate just to find housing for my kids'

“Everyone here is going through the same thing.” Source: 9News

New record highs

According to Domain, the median cost of renting a house in the combined state capitals has reached a new record of $630 per week. 

The first three months of 2024 saw the sharpest quarterly gain in 17 years, with advertised house rents rising by five per cent and units by 3.3 per cent to a new record median asking price of $620.

These price increases are attributed to a record influx of migrants and the resulting housing shortage. 

Not fast enough

Stephen Smith, a partner at Deloitte Access Economics, stated that the nation has not been building enough homes to keep up with the record influx of migrants. 

He expressed doubt that the government's goal of building 1.2 million homes starting from mid-2024 would be achieved, according to recent forecasts. 

Smith warned that it could take years to rectify the housing shortage, so soaring property prices and rents are likely to worsen significantly before improving.

Originally published as Rental crisis pushes QLD family of eight to live in tent