Picture a GP clinic in western Sydney. Nadia*, 34, is back for her third script of the year. She started getting panic attacks after her landlord hiked the rent several times. Each time she feared the next eviction notice would push her, her partner and two kids into homelessness. The doctor adjusts her dose, offers a mental-health plan, but there’s something else that could also help Nadia – access to secure and affordable housing.
The data is now overwhelming: a recent rental affordability index labelled every capital city in Australia “critically unaffordable” for anyone on the minimum wage in 2024. One million low-income households already spend more than 30% of their earnings on shelter.
