Across Australia, the rental crisis has hit breaking point — and for single mothers like Emily Clements in Perth, survival feels like a daily calculation. With rents doubling in just a few years and competition tougher than ever, even working families are being priced out of the most basic stability: a roof over their heads.
Families Struggling to Stay Afloat
Emily Clements, a 32-year-old single mother of two, works part-time while caring for her neurodivergent children. Her rent has jumped from $380 to $850 a week, outpacing her Centrelink payments. “My rent is $1,700 a fortnight, and my payment is $1,600,” she told SBS News. Without her father’s help, she says she would already be homeless.
Clements isn’t alone. At recent rental inspections, she faced crowds of 40 people — some offering up to a year’s rent upfront just to secure a home. “You can’t compete with that,” she said. “It’s terrifying”, reports SBS News.
For many like her, the simple act of renting has become a battle. Perth, once among the country’s most affordable cities, now ranks as the least affordable capital for renters. The 2025 National Shelter–SGS Rental Affordability Index shows that households in Perth are now spending nearly one-third of their income on rent.
A Crisis Years in the Making
The affordability crisis extends far beyond Western Australia. Sydney and Adelaide renters are also spending close to 30% of their income on housing, while regional Queensland has become the least affordable regional market in the country.
Over the past decade, more Australians have been forced into lifelong renting, particularly women and single parents. Public housing has halved since the mid-1990s, while rents have grown faster than mortgage repayments. For low-income earners, every dollar spent on rent means one less for essentials like food, fuel, and children’s therapy.
In Sydney, single mother Charlotte Karlsson-Jones pays 60% of her income on rent. “It’s just impossible,” she said. “Every year, it gets worse.” She described a system that seems to only help once a person becomes homeless.
The Economic Ripple Effect
The crisis isn’t only affecting tenants — it’s now reshaping communities and businesses. Perth café owner Ie-Tehn Kwee says high rents are driving workers away. “People are moving back with parents or commuting over an hour just to make ends meet,” he explained. Early morning shifts are now starting at 4am wake-ups for many.
Housing advocate Robert Pradolin warned that rental stress is now “threatening the workforce itself.” Essential workers — nurses, hospitality staff, carers — can’t afford to live near where they work. “It’s a housing issue, but also an economic one,” he said.
Calls for Urgent Reform
Advocates like Shelter WA CEO Kath Snell are calling for more social housing, rent caps, and the end of no-grounds evictions. She says Western Australia needs 5,000 additional affordable homes a year just to keep up. “It’s mind-boggling that the wealthiest state has the worst rental affordability,” she said.
The WA government insists progress is being made. Housing Minister John Carey highlighted a $5.8 billion investment to add more than 3,800 social homes since 2021. But advocates argue the reforms don’t match the scale of the crisis.
At the federal level, Josh Burns, Australia’s Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness, acknowledged the crisis has been “decades in the making.” He said Canberra is working with states to deliver 55,000 new social and affordable homes, but many fear it won’t come soon enough for families already hanging by a thread.
Living One Notice Away
For Emily Clements, the crisis feels deeply personal. Her lease ends in a few months, and she’s not sure what comes next. “If my kids ask for something, the answer is usually no,” she said quietly. “I don’t want to lie to them — I just want a future where I can say yes once in a while.”
