HOUSING campaigners are calling on the Federal Government to fix problems with Commonwealth rent assistance and raise the payment.
New figures show nearly one in two recipients is still in rental stress as rents continue to rise.
National housing lobby Everybody’s Home said statistics from the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services 2023 showed about 44 per cent of households receiving the supplement were paying more than 30 per cent of their income on rent.
In Victoria, 44.3 per cent of renters receiving rent assistance are experiencing rental stress, which was the second-highest amount in Australia, just behind NSW, where 46.8 per cent were experiencing rental stress.
In Mildura, 25.4 per cent of renters were reported as in rental stress.
According to property analysis company CoreLogic, the median Mildura rental value is $396.
This figure increased 9.8 per cent over the past 12 months and 2.3 per cent over the past six months.
Everybody’s Home national spokesperson Maiy Azize said the payment must be reformed to help renters experiencing stress across Australia.
“Commonwealth rent assistance can be a lifeline for tenants who are struggling to cope with soaring rents,” she said.
“With the housing crisis at fever pitch, people need help so they aren’t plunged into homelessness.”
According to Everybody’s Home, the Mallee has a social housing need of about 3000, with about 500 people experiencing homelessness.
Ms Azize said the high number of renters experiencing stress showed that the the current payment wasn’t enough to lift people out of difficulty.
“It has been decades since there was a real boost to rent assistance,” she said.
“At the moment, the maximum fortnightly payment a single person can receive is $151.60.
“That number just hasn’t kept up with rents, which have surged while the payment lags behind. It’s no wonder that almost one in two people who get the payment are still in rental stress.”
Ms Azize said the people who needed the payment the most, including those on JobSeeker or Youth Allowance, were often left out.
“We’re calling on the Federal Government to increase Commonwealth rent assistance by at least 50 per cent – and fix the payment so that the people who need help most can get it.
“Most importantly, we need a long-term commitment to build social housing.”
