Next week’s Federal Government Budget should address the recommendations of the Henry tax review to improve housing affordability and assist low-income private renters, according to the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).
"Rising housing costs are putting increasing pressures on low-income Australians who are struggling to make ends meet in a tight rental market," says ACOSS chief executive officer Clare Martin.
"The Henry Review identified what low-income renters have known for years – rent assistance is too low for many people to secure adequate housing."
"ACOSS is urging government to take up the Henry Review proposal to increase rent assistance and link maximum rates to market rents."
"We have asked for a 30 per cent increase in rent assistance for low-income households which is about $15 per week."
Martin says rent assistance levels have fallen behind market rates – the Henry Review noted that over the past three years annual rents have risen at an annual rate of 10 per cent, while rent assistance has increased by only 2.7 per cent.
"The Henry Review notes that a single unemployed person spends about half of their payments on rent, leaving them with little left for other living expenses," she says.
Story from API Magazine
