Stanthorpe families pitching tents as cost of living skyrockets

The president of a regional not-for-profit organisation is living in fear for the Stanthorpe community as the rising costs of living are leaving families living in tents. Full story here.

The uptick in Southern Downs tourism has had unfortunate and hard-hitting consequences for the region’s residents doing it tough.

In the four years since the Covid-19 pandemic, the region’s communities have only continued to suffer.

Despite property values having risen significantly for parts of regional Queensland, many communities are still struggling to find a roof to put over their heads.

The region’s growing housing crisis has Vinnies Stanthorpe conference president Ros Day fearing for the worst.

“In the past fortnight we’ve had 35 people (ask for help) and it’s cost me $2430,” she said.

Mrs Day said the issue truly hit home when her monthly clients skyrocketed from 32 in March to 70 in October of 2023.

“In June (of 2023) our weekly average was $640 (for food vouchers) and as of this March (2024) it was $1240,” she said.

“This situation is as dire as I have ever seen it with families resorting to living in tents and struggling to access basic necessities.”

According to recent Suburbtrends data the rental vacancy rate for a property in the Southern Downs was 1 per cent or less.

In their April report Stanthorpe received a score of 90 per cent against the property data analysis groups ‘rental pain index’ (RPI) which measures the average 12-month rental increase, rental affordability and vacancy rate.

Warwick scored slightly higher on the RPI index receiving a score of 97, with the western Southern Downs receiving 86 per cent and eastern region 85 per cent.

In the more than decade Mrs Day has spent working within community services in the region, this current cost of living crisis is by far the worst.

“I’ve got one family in a caravan, two sisters couch surfing, a mum with two young children sleeping on a floor in a house that’s already got four adults and two children,” she said.

“(Additionally) A mum and a son in a tent, a family of six in a tent that it’s looking like they can move into a house next week, which is great after six months.

“And I’ve got another single man on a floor and four individuals I know in tents along the creek.”

Stanthorpe Vinnies conference president Ros Day (L) and former president Carmel Mahoney (R).

The incomparable cost of rent along with an increase of seasonal workers needing accommodation and rise of Airbnbs in the region are the catalyst to the growing issue, Mrs Day said.

“There seems to be a lot more tension in the air and families seem to be arguing more and kicking people out,” she said.

“People do seem to be strained, I think it’s just all the negatives that are around everyone and that sort of brings down to self-worth.”

Further investigations by Warwick Daily News revealed a staggering more than 300 Airbnb holiday rentals are available in the Southern Downs region.

As of April 12, there was a total of 28 rental properties listed on realestate.com.au in the whole Southern Downs region.

A lack of jobs in the region has also been a major factor, impacting those who have moved to the countryside for an escape.

“A lot have moved here into a rural area thinking it’s going to be cheaper and then have found themselves with nowhere to live and no jobs,” Mrs Day said.

With an increase in those seeking mental health and drug rehabilitation support, the closure of Stanthorpe Lifeline in June brings uncertainty to the already strained support offered by Vinnies.

“It’s just very sad to see something like that go because I’m sure they could refer people who come in to other services that Lifeline offers,” she said.

“I’m certainly referring people to more and more services, but you can’t get into a counselling service here for about two years.”

A number of Stanthorpe residents are rallying to stop the closure of the beloved op-shop and support service and are encouraging other community members to sign their petition.

The creeping cold change in weather is another issue weighing heavily on Mrs Day’s mind, with a number of clients camping in tents along the creek side.

“What is really distressing is that we’ve got two huge facilities here that have been closed down,” she said.

One of those vacant dwellings, former aged care facility Carramar was purchased by Your Church in January of 2023, after reportedly having sat vacant for a number of years.

The old Carramar facility on College Rd remains empty.

Your Church Stanthorpe pastor Markus Repo said it was still the church’s intention to repurpose the former nursing home into a site that would benefit the community as a whole.

Mr Repo said the stall in progress was largely due to a struggle in obtaining the relevant third parties to visit the site and undertake the required building inspections before a planning application can be lodged with council.

“We’d like to put people in there soon rather than later but it’s probably another year or so away until it’s ready to use,” he said.

Southern Downs Regional Council offers free showers at their community facilities the ‘Y’ in Stanthorpe and Warwick Indoor Recreation and Aquatic Centre, as well as laundry vouchers.

The rising cost of living has strained local businesses, with donations of goods such as bread and meat to the remaining not-for-profits starting to dwindle.

“The supermarkets pretty much can help out, they’ve been giving us sort of close to out of date stock,” Mrs Day said.

“Aldi was giving heaps and heaps of bread which is available on a Monday morning and they used to give meat as well but they can’t do it any longer.”

As domestic and family violence numbers have seen a rise in the region, Mrs Day said local police now offer money cards and can assist in finding safe housing for those families or individuals.

Mrs Day encourages anyone who may be experiencing financial difficulties or is needing other family support to contact the Granite Belt Neighbourhood Centre.

“We urgently need support to address this crisis and ensure that every member of our community has access to safe and affordable housing,” she said.

Emergency relief is available from Granite Belt Neighbourhood Centre (GBNC) each Monday from 9am-noon, from Stanthorpe Vinnies on Tuesdays from 9am-noon.

The Salvation Army can also provide emergency relief via phone, with vouchers available for collection from the Stanthorpe branch on Wednesdays from 9-noon or GBNC on Fridays.

Originally published as Stanthorpe families pitching tents as cost of living skyrockets