Australians earning minimum wage or relying on payments such as JobSeeker "don't stand a chance" in the rental market, according to an Anglicare Australia survey of 45,992 listings.
Only 2 per cent (720 rentals) of the listings were affordable for someone on a full-time minimum wage, and only 1 per cent (312 rentals) were viable for someone on the Age Pension.
Zero per cent of the listings (51, seven and one respectably) were affordable for a person on the Disability Support Person, on Jobseeker or on Youth Allowance.
The snapshot data was collected on the weekend of March 19, 2022.
"We keep hearing that this election is about living costs, but housing is the biggest cost facing Australians," Anglicare Australia executive director Kasy Chambers said in a statement.
"People on low incomes don't stand a chance."
Anglicare is calling on whichever party wins the election to raise JobSeeker and other payments to above the poverty line, as well as for government at all levels to protect people from unfair rent increases.
"And we're calling for a big boost to affordable housing. Our shortfall is massive. We need 500,000 new social and affordable rentals across Australia," Ms Chambers said.
"Investing in housing is the most powerful way to make the market more affordable, and boost regional communities doing it tough after the pandemic and floods."
Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Dr Cassandra Goldie said the situation would likely deteriorate without major housing policy changes.
"People on low incomes are caught in a crushing pincer movement of rising rents and stagnant incomes," Dr Goldie said in her statement.
"They have long been priced out of major cities and, increasingly, from many regional areas."
