‘Devastating’ proof Australia is broken, with the rise of the ‘working homeless’

News.com.au - 11/12
Startling new data has revealed a “devastating” emerging trend from Australia’s continuing cost-of-living and housing crises, which experts say governments are failing to address.

Startling new data has revealed a “devastating” emerging trend from Australia’s continuing cost-of-living and housing crises, which experts say governments are failing to address.

It’s a scenario that shouldn’t be playing out, with inflation and rent rises easing in recent times and the average salary hitting a whopping six figures for the first time ever this year.

And on paper, Australia has the second-richest population in the world.

Despite that, the number of people who are gainfully employed but forced to access homelessness support rose in almost every state and territory in 2023-24.

“This is a humanitarian crisis and these shocking new figures must be a wake-up call for governments across Australia,” Homelessness Australia chief executive Kate Colvin said of the Institute of Health and Welfare’s annual report.

“We are failing people at every turn – more families, workers and older Australians are being pushed to breaking point by skyrocketing rents and a broken housing system.”

The number of ‘working homeless’ – people earning a wage but needing support for homelessness – is rising across the country. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui
A job is no longer a protection against homelessness for a growing number of Aussies. Picture: Emma Brasier

Across the board, rough sleeping and persistent homelessness has increased to “devastating levels”, Ms Co...
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