Deb Longhurst, of housing support group Linking Communities, says Griffith’s chronic rental shortage combined with tough new immigration and welfare restrictions is making life hell for some of our most vulnerable families. 

“We’ve had women and teenagers approaching us for help who are effectively stateless, they have no income and no access to housing,” she said. 

Ms Longhurst said women who come to Griffith on a spousal visa are particularly vulnerable. If they flee their abusive husbands they may not be eligible for any government assistance, as they are not permanent residents.

“Our immigration laws are becoming tough and unfair… the bureaucracy is just getting crackers”. 

Ms Longhurst said housing support services are struggling to cope with a rise in homelessness among both Australian and foreign-born clients, with rental vacancies at just one per cent, and an estimated jump of 10 per cent in rental prices over the past year. 

”People on a youth allowance are earning just $430 a fortnight. Where can you afford to rent in Griffith on that income?” 

The average rent for a Griffith house is now $330 a week. 

“Even if we can get our clients to a rental inspection, they can’t compete with the 40 others who are in a better position”. 

Ms Longhurst said ‘Free Beez’ lockers, which Linking Communities set up with Police and Community Youth Clubs (PCYC) to provide emergency accommodation, are being accessed far more than anticipated. 

The first access was only 11 days after their opening on September 1, and since then there has been a further 14 accesses.

“We are still looking for businesses who can sponsor the lockers,” Ms Longhurst said. 

Individuals can also donate supplies for the lockers.

Ms Longhurst is also calling for more action from both state and federal government to address the cracks in a system where more and more homeless people have no government support.

Children aged 12 to 18 are particularly vulnerable she said, as they’re generally too old to be placed in foster families, but too young to access homelessness services. 

​If you’d like to help out, you can call Linking Communities on 69644804.

For help or locker access, please call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.