A tent city is emerging in Sydney’s trendy inner-west suburb of Enmore, providing temporary shelter to people from all walks of life affected by the city’s rental crisis.
Despite being gainfully employed, some Sydney workers have been forced into such places as the housing crisis worsens.
Kerry, a former admin worker now jeweller who used to pay $1200 a week for her two-bedroom apartment in Waterloo, now finds herself living in a tent in Enmore Park, along with many others who can no longer afford short-term accommodation or the soaring rents.
Talking to The Daily Telegraph, Kerry said, “I got a little bit ill, and before I knew it, I couldn’t afford my rent as well as paying for my medication and staying in a place in Sydney.
“That’s the reason why I ended up so quickly on the streets – it was supposed to be just for a couple of weeks,” she continued.
She expressed the reluctance many face in relying on government benefits, stating, “A lot of us don’t want to be put on government benefits … there are still people out there working or hoping to start work but just can’t afford to rent.”
Trina Jones, CEO of Homelessness NSW, emphasised the need for immediate action, stating 57,000 people are still waiting for housing.
Ms Jones stressed the urgency of social housing, highlighting the pressing need in the current crisis.
The rental crisis in Sydney has reached a boiling point, with long queues of hopefuls waiting to view rental properties, underscoring the intense competition.
Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne are experiencing the hottest rental markets, and the limited supply has led to accelerated price increases.
The situation has resulted in a significant portion of the young population being completely priced out of the rental market.
News Corp recently interviewed several renters as they waited in lengthy queues for Sydney rental inspections.
Detailing their struggles, one pair revealed they were facing rent hikes of nearly $600 per month.
Another pair, tradies, disclosed that they shared a bedroom for $500 weekly.
A cafe waitress expressed her month-long grind to find a $400-per-week apartment in Mascot.
Others revealed plans to offer more than $100 per week above the asking price to secure a lease.
The latest research from the NSW Council of Social Service indicates that one-in-five tenants in the state, amounting to 413,000 individuals, are currently living below the poverty line due to the rental crisis and the increasing cost of living.
Amid the crisis, Kerry, who for now calls Enmore Park home, emphasised the vulnerability of everyone to homelessness, later telling 7 NEWS, “Homelessness is just one bad situation away from everybody.”