THE Riverina's "severe shortage" of affordable properties to buy and rent has reached crisis point, with a growing number of residents locked out of the property market.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The unprecedented boom has seen house prices across the Riverina soar by about 14 per cent in the past year as low interest rates and generous government grant schemes drive up demand.
While the boom is good news for those already established in the property market, it has left those with limited financial security facing homelessness.
On Friday, the St Vincent de Paul Society will partner with DCJ Housing to hold an expo at the Victory Memorial Gardens between 11am and 1pm to provide information on free services for anyone at risk of homelessness.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Bonnie Jackson-French, of crisis accommodation provider Edel Quinn, said the combination of job instability because of the pandemic and the tight rental market means many people not typically at risk are now finding themselves facing dire situations.
"I would say the rental situation has increased the number of clients that we see at the service and the need for a wider range of services to assist them," Ms Jackson-French said.
Later in the month, the Riverina branch of Regional Development Australia will co-host a one-day summit to examine ways to solve the "housing crisis" gripping regional centres.
"There is a severe shortage of properties to rent or buy which is causing problems across the community," RDA Riverina CEO Rachel Whiting said.
Ms Jackson-French said in recent months Edel Quinn had seen more people in need of assistance coming forward.
"It is not the stereotypical homeless person [people] picture in their mind who is the most impacted - it is more so people who may be having a relationship breakdown or a family breakdown or who find themselves out of work," she said.
"They find themselves in a situation, couch surfing or staying in a tent, that they didn't ever fathom they would be in in the past."
Ms Whiting, who will be running the housing crisis conference in conjunction with RDA Orana, agreed that the squeeze on housing as more people move into the Riverina from large cities has accelerated the problem.
"One of the problems of increased population is that it becomes a case where only those able to afford the accommodation, get the accommodation," she said.
The RDA conference will have leaders in housing and policy discussing the housing crisis, but Ms Whiting said it won't promise an all-in-one solution.
Raine and Horne property manager Sarah Raufers said that a lack of available stock is the major factor keeping clients out of homes.
"We try and help everyone we come in contact with 100 per cent, however due to the current market being under-supplied it is impossible to rehouse everyone," she said.
Ms Jackson-French and Mrs Raufers agreed that more housing is needed in the city if the current situation is to be improved.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark dailyadvertiser.com.au
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters