Western Australia’s Rental Affordability Snapshot shows a household would need about $130,000 a year to afford the median rent and avoid housing stress, underscoring widespread unaffordability for low‑income renters.

Rental housing in WA is increasingly inaccessible for people on income support or the minimum wage, with very few affordable options available relative to need.

Anglicare’s data reveal only 13 of over 3,300 private rentals were affordable for households on income support, and none were affordable for JobSeeker or Youth Allowance recipients.

Policy implications call for reform and investment to expand social and affordable housing, reduce investor tax breaks, and redirect savings into building more affordable homes, publicly and in community sectors.

The report highlights the human impact of affordability gaps, including repeated relocations and accessibility challenges for people with disabilities, raising concerns about homelessness and reliance on emergency supports.

Overall conclusions state that housing policy commitments and elections have not translated into relief for renters, framing the rental crisis as an economic crisis.

Anglicare WA CEO emphasizes decades of decline and that recovery will take decades, urging bold government action to protect those most affected while expanding longer-term housing supply.

Nicolette Murphy, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, exemplifies the struggle by paying roughly $600–$630 per week in rent and relying on disability pension and family support amid frequent relocations.

The organization calls for significant reforms and emergency measures, including rent caps, reconsideration of housing taxes, and a discussion on banning no-grounds evictions."

Findings show near-complete exclusion of people on income support from affordable rentals, highlighting a chronic shortage for the most vulnerable.

Personal testimonies illustrate the human impact: a disabled renter facing lease non-renewal and a family relocating from Melbourne to the East Kimberley due to unstable housing.

There is only one rental nationwide affordable for someone on JobSeeker, underscoring the severity of the shortage for the lowest-income households.