Homelessness is worsening in the ACT, because housing insecurity is reaching people previously considered financially stable, says Trevor Ament, CEO of Anglicare NSW South, NSW West and ACT.

“Homelessness can happen to almost anyone. It can be triggered by the loss of a job, a relationship breakdown, illness, family violence, or simply rents rising faster than incomes.

“Homelessness doesn’t discriminate. It can happen much closer to home than many people realise.”

More Canberrans who never imagined they would need support from a charity are turning to Anglicare for the first time as rising rents, cost-of-living pressures and unexpected life events push them to breaking point.

“There’s a perception that Canberra is a comparatively affluent city, and for many people it is,” Mr Ament said. “But there’s another side to that story. Every day, our teams meet people who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads despite doing everything they can to stay afloat.”

Anglicare is seeing families choosing between paying rent and buying groceries; older women facing homelessness after their relationships have broken down; pensioners struggling after losing their partners; and working professionals unable to afford housing.

“Housing stress is no longer isolated to a small group of people,” Mr Ament said. “It’s affecting individuals and families from all walks of life.”

Housing affordability is the biggest pressure, Mr Ament said. Rents have risen faster than incomes, leaving households with too little money for food, utilities, transport, heating or medical care.

Anglicare’s Rental Affordability Snapshot, published earlier this year, argued that the private rental market is broken. It found there were no affordable or appropriate properties in Canberra for households that relied on income support, while a ‘normal’ family — two parents, both working full-time, earning a minimum wage, with two children, receiving Commonwealth Rent Assistance and Family Tax Benefit — could not afford even 5 per cent of properties in Canberra.

At the Snapshot’s launch, Anglicare described a woman with cancer who would be homeless because she was a casual worker and could not afford to pay her rent; a panel-beater for 40 years who said his family would become homeless because waiting lists for housing were too long; people spending $700 a week to live in houses where power points electrocuted them; a woman whose rent had gone up $100 a week in the last six months; and families living in cars.

“For many people, the biggest barrier to stability isn’t a lack of resilience or effort,” Mr Ament said. “It’s that there simply aren’t enough affordable housing options available. People can’t move into homes that don’t exist.”

A grandmother came to Anglicare after her adult daughter suddenly died. Overnight, she was grieving, caring for a young grandchild, and under financial pressure.

“We could provide practical support, food, and referrals, but we couldn’t solve the underlying challenge of finding affordable housing,” Mr Ament said.

Young people remain particularly vulnerable, moving between friends’ couches and temporary arrangements; they may never appear in official counts because they have somewhere to sleep tonight, but no secure home or certainty about tomorrow.

Domestic violence is one of the leading pathways into homelessness for women and children, Mr Ament said. People leaving violent homes need somewhere safe to go, but often there is nowhere they can afford to live.

“Homelessness isn’t always visible,” Mr Ament said. “Many people experiencing homelessness aren’t sleeping rough. They’re living in cars, vans, spare rooms or temporary accommodation, doing everything they can to maintain a sense of normality while searching for somewhere to call home.”

A man living in a converted van with his dog came to one of Anglicare’s emergency relief services seeking food for himself and his pet.

“His situation reflects the reality for many peoƒple in Canberra,” Mr Ament said. “He wasn’t sleeping on the street, but he certainly didn’t have a secure home.”

Anglicare provides social and affordable housing, homelessness support, emergency food relief, financial counselling, and family violence support, among other services.

But its emergency relief services are experiencing significant demand, Mr Ament said.

“The rising cost of living means more people are seeking support, while at the same time charities are finding it harder to meet that need.”

The public can help by donating food or money; volunteering; or organising food drives in their workplace, school, parish, or local community.

Financial donations often have the greatest impact because they allow Anglicare to purchase exactly what is needed, when and where it is needed, Mr Ament said. To donate, visit https://www.anglicare.com.au/donate.

“Sometimes people assume that their contribution is too small to matter,” Mr Ament said. “The truth is that many of the people we support are helped by a series of small acts of generosity coming together. Those contributions provide practical assistance, but they also send a powerful message that someone cares.”

Anglicare wants more social and affordable housing; income support payments that reflect actual living costs; co-ordinated housing, health, mental health, family violence and community services and earlier intervention so that people are helped before they reach crisis point.

“Ultimately, reducing homelessness requires a long-term commitment from all levels of government,” Mr Ament said. “Every person deserves a safe place to call home, and housing must be treated as a fundamental part of a healthy and inclusive community.

“During Homelessness Week, I encourage Canberrans to look beyond the stereotypes, and remember that every person experiencing homelessness has a story, a family, and hopes for the future. As a community, we all have a role to play in ensuring everyone has a safe place to call home.”