A Central Victorian renter fears homelessness after having dozens of tenancy applications rejected, as the city faces rising rents and low vacancy rates.
Another says her family's chances of buying a home are being stymied by a rent rise equivalent to nearly 10 per cent of their current rate.
Central Victorian average rental prices rose in 2020 according to state government data. Support services have warned this puts more people at risk of homelessness.
East Bendigo resident Emily Batterham has been applying for homes for about three months, for herself and her children.
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She has applied for about 50 to 60 so far, but been turned down for each of them.
Miss Batterham is now looking as far away as Heathcote, Elmore and Maryborough for a home. She has pushed her price range up from the $300 she pays currently to as high as $380.
Miss Batterham has lived in her current home for three years, but has been forced to move after the property sold.
She now only has until next month to find somewhere for herself and her three children to live.
If she is unable to find a place to live, she may have to move to Queensland, where she has some family.
Miss Batterham said she knew of many other families in Bendigo the same situation, struggling to find somewhere to live.
She said in the past, she had applied for maybe seven or eight houses before being accepted.
Miss Batterham said mentally she was exhausted, stressed and felt like giving up, after receiving email after email turning down her applications.
"I'm not fussy at all, a roof over my kids' heads is the main thing," she said.
"I go to bed crying at night, stressing about how we're going to live."
For one Kangaroo Flat resident it was a $30 rent rise causing stress.
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said her family paid already paid $330 each week for the three bedroom home, which had carpet stains, water damage and needed repainting.
She said the landlord hoped to raise the family's rent by $30 each week, which would make it even harder to save for a deposit on a home.
She feared the family might be forced to pull their children out of extra-curricular activities, which were important for their social skills as they were both autistic, or cut down on food.
Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
