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Gold Coast families struggle to survive in Australia's most expensive city

GOLD COAST FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE IN AUSTRALIA’S MOST EXPENSIVE CITY

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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="1302223512" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{47}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">Gold Coast residents are spending more than 90% of their income on rent with nothing left over for emergencies, as the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland reports a significant increase in the number of locals struggling with housing costs.</span>&nbsp;</p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="1621859746" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{53}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">Gold Coast<span> </span>Society<span> </span>President Tony Moore said since the end of the COVID-19<span> pandemic, </span>rising<span> </span>housing and rent costs<span> </span>had become of the main reasons vulnerable families<span> </span>were seeking support from the<span> </span>Queensland<span> </span>charity. </span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="1958610828" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{79}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">“We<span> </span>hear from<span> people paying more than 90-95% of their income on rent, with nothing </span>left over<span> for emergencies,” he said.</span></span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="244468828" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{93}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">“It’s<span> not a sustainable way to live</span><span> but with such </span>a<span> lack of affordable housing options on the Coast, the alternative is often </span>homelessness. </span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="963764110" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{105}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">“Even<span> </span>a lunch<span> at McDonalds can become an unattainable luxury.</span></span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="1878187881" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{111}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">“We’ve<span> </span>heard from families who, despite working full-time jobs, can’t<span> afford new </span>school<span> </span>shoes or<span> </span>textbooks<span> </span>for their children.”</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="80711634" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{139}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">According to data from Ray White, after an<span> 8.6% increase in the last 12 months, Gold Coast residents are now paying a median weekly rent of $950 for a house</span>.</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="662531444" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{151}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">That’s<span> </span>higher than both Sydney ($810) and Melbourne ($575).</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="1788432672" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{159}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">The Society is looking to raise $750,000 to support Gold Coast residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness at the upcoming Vinnies CEO Sleepout on 18 June. </span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="982470471" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{165}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">Local business and community leaders will spend the night sleeping on cardboard, while fundraising to help deliver safe, affordable housing. </span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="127898368" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{171}"><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW138146442 BCX0">Mr<span> </span>Moore said in an average week, the Society would hear from dozens of Gold Coast residents experiencing homelessness. </span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="463272498" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{181}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">“If you’re on income support, there’s basically no hope of affording a private rental unless you’re willing to live in crowded conditions with 5 or more other people,” he said.</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="1657764887" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{189}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">“Some people<span> </span>experiencing homelessness<span> </span>have trauma or mental health issues that just<span> </span>don’t<span> make that realistic – </span>they’d<span> prefer to live on the street than with others.</span></span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="1990309589" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{199}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">“Finding a home is one thing,<span> </span>but having a<span> </span>strong<span> </span>support network is<span> </span>vital<span> to be </span>actually exit the cycle of homelessness for good.”</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="856361220" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{219}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">The Society is currently constructing 60 community and affordable units in<span> </span>Nerang, where residents will have access to wrap-around support services to encourage long-term stability and keep people out of homelessness.</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="425570057" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{229}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">This project is supported by funds from<span> </span>previous<span> CEO Sleepouts on the Gold Coast, along </span>with support from the State Government.</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW138146442 BCX0" paraid="745971947" paraeid="{03c23366-562a-40d7-a1bb-9a2dc8faa68f}{239}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW138146442 BCX0">Gold Coast community and business leaders are still encouraged to register for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout by visiting <a href="https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=23588899860&amp;utm_content=188766862530&amp;utm_term=vinnies%20ceo%20sleepout&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23588899860&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADrjW17DLGHOcn9EGCxCNOAUkRUDZ&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwxITRBhBYEiwA6mZm7QTzAbyiOpsRj_uhc0p9B5F2oNpDRedrVG4fAgtZMcp0los9kJAjThoCspYQAvD_BwE" data-anchor="?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=23588899860&amp;utm_content=188766862530&amp;utm_term=vinnies%20ceo%20sleepout&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23588899860&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADrjW17DLGHOcn9EGCxCNOAUkRUDZ&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwxITRBhBYEiwA6mZm7QTzAbyiOpsRj_uhc0p9B5F2oNpDRedrVG4fAgtZMcp0los9kJAjThoCspYQAvD_BwE">ceosleepout.org.au </a></span> </p>
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