The rising cost of rental accommodation is creating economic hardship for an increasing number of low-income earning families in Orange.
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And that has led to increased demand for welfare assistance from charity organisations.
We are seeing around 100 people a week and it's slowly increasing.
- Anne Hopwood, FoodCare Orange
Figures released from the 2016 census showed that the median rent has risen by $40 to $270 a week from the previous census in 2011.
And it showed that the percentage of people suffering rent stress [where rent payments are 30 per cent or more of your income] has risen from 9.8 per cent in 2011 to 11.9 per cent now.
FoodCare Orange volunteer co-ordinator Anne Hopwood said people were struggling to pay their higher priced power bills and rising rent.
Ms Hopwood said that from Tuesday the group would expand its services at the Glenroi Community Centre from pensioners to include struggling low-income earners.
“We are seeing around 100 people a week and it’s slowly increasing,” she said.
“We are hearing stories about people who are on a very tight budget who aren’t necessarily receiving government support but who are having a hard time paying bills and suffering rental stress.”
She said that from July they would broaden their services of offering price-cut food beyond people on pensions to include low-income earners.
Ms Hopwood said they had partnered with the Aldi group to provide a greater range of products.
St Vincents de Paul NSW chief executive officer Jack de Groot said the census painted “a fairly bleak picture” for people struggling to pay their bills, particularly with electricity price hikes looming.
“Given the sobering statistics we are already seeing on rental costs and income, along with reports from our own Vinnies services, our expectations are that our assistance will be required by more and more people across the state this year,” he said.
“Government policies are skewed towards supporting home ownership instead of creating affordable housing,” Mr de Groot said.
“Those who are paying a mortgage are still far better off than those facing ever increasing rental prices.”
The census said 22.9 per cent of households in Orange had a median weekly income of less than $650.
Mr de Groot said it would be a tough winter for many low income earners with rising electricity bills.
“Our services always see a spike in demand during the cold winter months.
“This winter people on or below the poverty line are being hit with a significant electricity price increase on top of the usual higher costs from heating homes.
“The impact is yet to be seen but we are preparing for a tougher than usual winter.
“Organisations like Vinnies are doing everything they can to help those facing homelessness.
“But it is the government who have the ability to create significant change across the state, especially on the back of a substantial budget surplus.”
Mr de Groot said Vinnies were calling on the state government to ensure there was at least 15 per cent social and affordable housing built into all new developments.
Vinnies is pushing for the rent for that social and affordable housing to be kept below 30 per cent of residents’ income.
Vinnies regional president for Orange, Cowra and Blayney, Michael Horth said in May they had received 827 requests for financial, housing and food help in autumn – with about 70 per cent from people in Orange
He said some people who could not afford rent were couch surfing and in some cases living in their cars.
Vinnies is also struggling for funding.
Mr de Groot said their winter appeal was still only half way toward reaching its target.
The appeal runs until the end of August.