A new report released during 2025 Anti-Poverty Week last week has sharpened the focus on Australia’s widespread poverty and rental affordability crisis.
The Poverty in Australia 2025: Overview report published by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) found that 1 in 7 Australians lives in poverty.
Additionally, 57 per cent of the lowest 20 per cent of earners face rental stress (spending more than 30% of their income on rent). This is an increase of 5 per cent since 2020–21.
Students at the University of Wollongong (UOW) are among those affected by the rental affordability crisis, with some resorting to alternative means of housing to continue their studies.
Mature-aged first-year UOW student Rob Lacey, who has lived in his van since January 2025, said he has been priced out of the rental market.
“Because I deal with elements in the van, I consider it [renting] regularly,” he said.
“But every time I’m reminded how expensive it is.”
Comparatively, he said living in the van was an affordable option.
“With a van, there are no real expenses apart from fuel,” he said.
“What money I save, I pay for in loss of comfort […] but that’s something I’ve decided I can take.”
An increasing number of Australians share similar experiences, with Anglicare’s Rental Affordability Snapshot 2025 released in April, reporting that market availability for prospective young renters on low incomes is insufficient.
“Affordability remains almost non-existent […] with just three listings across the entire country affordable for someone on JobSeeker, and none for those on Youth Allowance,” the report stated.
One reason the report cited for the increase in poverty over the past five years was the removal of the Coronavirus support payments.
This result comes despite the rate of JobSeeker being permanently raised by $25 per week following the pandemic.
Concerningly, the report also stated that the rate of children living in poverty was higher than the general population, at one in six.
