Charities stretched as cost of living pressure builds

Dramatic weekly rent increases over the past year on the Sunshine Coast have forced some people in the hinterland to live in their cars, couch surf or use tents to get by.

Thankfully the hinterland seems to have avoided some of the massive rises felt elsewhere. Even so, charities are reporting increased need for accommodation and supplies. 

Pastor Dale Dowler from the Shack said he had found in the last 3-6 months a dramatic increase in people from all walks of life requiring assistance with food, referrals for electricity, gas and other expenses. 

“Cost of living is starting to bite and is leaving a mark,” he said. “The knock-on affect of that is that people are not giving as they would normally, but on the whole we still have a very generous community.

“Currently we are business-as-usual, providing much needed food for the body and brain, a social environment for conversation and connection, a place to gain some value and of course hope.”

On a more positive note Pastor Dowler said a recent forum “Hope for Homes” at Goodlife Community Centre has given his operation a much-needed injection of hope and new direction. The forum was a collaboration between the Sunshine Coast faith community and Sunshine Coast Council.

Pastor Dowler said people were often homeless through no fault of their own. 

“We should not assume anything,” he said. “That person we are possibly judging is someone’s brother, sister, son or daughter. 

“If at all possible as we enter this Christmas period spare a thought for those around us, for a community that often does not have a voice.”

St Vincent de Paul Society President of St Joseph’s Conference Nambour Teresa Forrest said the Nambour Support Centre had supported 113 people last month with food, registration, rental, pharmacy and vouchers for clothing at Vinnies shops.  “This time last year, it was probably closer to 80,” she said.  

“There are a couple of things happening here,” she said. “Firstly, some people are now moving away from the less affordable areas like Noosa and, in some cases, other areas around Nambour.  

“Now these are not necessarily people who are on Centrelink. Some are working people and realise cost-of-living increases means they have to move to cheaper rentals elsewhere.

“Secondly, we, at the Support Centre Vinnies, are still seeing lots of people trying to manage living in their cars, or couch surfing or using tents to get by.

“The housing crisis is being addressed on some levels but for the most part it has deepened for many people because of the increased cost-of-living and non-availability of low-cost housing.”

Rampant Rent Rises 

• Bli Bli and Nambour recorded relatively low rent increases for houses, with values only rising between 16.1 and 17 percent.

• Bli Bli’s median house rent price rose 16.1 percent to $650 across 128 properties.

• Nambour’s median house rent price rose 17.0% from to sit at $550 across 185 leased properties.

• Mooloolah Valley’s median house rent price rose 18.2% to $650 across 35 leased properties.

• By comparison Marcus Beach had the highest median increase in the last year, rising 45.5 per cent to $1040 a massive increase of $468 a week.