National housing campaign Everybody's Home says the urgency to address Australia's housing crisis has never been higher, as an annual report paints the bleakest picture of rental affordability yet.
Anglicare's Rental Affordability Snapshot shows there are virtually no affordable rentals for those on income support payments and less than one percent available for people earning a full-time minimum wage.
Everybody's Home spokesperson Kate Colvin said more social and affordable housing is sorely needed.
"Rents, electricity bills, grocery costs, petrol - everything is going up and people are at breaking point. This Budget, we need immediate action to increase income support so people can pay their rent, and a significant increase in social housing investment to provide an enduring solution to the growing housing emergency," Ms Colvin said.
"Record low vacancy and rising rents are driving more and more people into homelessness. Across Australia people are having to cut back on heating and eating, medical appointments and filling up their cars, just to make the rent. Even people on full-time wages are finding themselves sleeping in tents, caravans and on couches because they're struggling to find an affordable home.
"Every day the Government delays delivering the investment needed to significantly grow low-cost rental housing, the longer the rental crisis will continue.
"The Federal Government has the chance to deliver a life-changing Budget by investing in 25,000 social housing properties each year, and boosting income support, including Commonwealth Rent Assistance."
