The rising cost of living is hitting Australians hard, with many being forced to make painful sacrifices just to keep a roof over their heads. In a recent survey, Australians revealed some truly heartbreaking stories of how the housing crisis is changing the way they live. From skipping meals to missing medical and dental appointments, people are doing whatever it takes to make ends meet.
The Tough Choices Australians Are Making
As housing costs soar, many people have found themselves cutting back on essential expenses. A survey by Everybody’s Home, which involved over 1,100 respondents, found that a significant number of people are sacrificing their health and well-being to afford rent or mortgage payments. One respondent, Meg from Newcastle, shared that she and her partner often live off basic meals like toast and two-minute noodles because they can’t afford fresh produce after paying their rent. “Nourishment and healthcare are just not a reality at the moment,” Meg said to Yahoo Finance. She added that she often has to skip medical and dental appointments because they simply aren’t in the budget.
Rising Housing Costs and Energy Strain
This isn’t an isolated issue. According to the survey, 42% of respondents said they had skipped doctor’s appointments, while 38% cut back on driving, and 30% used credit cards or “buy now, pay later” schemes to help cover housing costs. The most common sacrifice, however, was reducing energy use—half of the respondents reported limiting heating and cooling in their homes to save money. One in three had trouble paying their energy bills or were behind in the past year. This adds yet another layer of stress to families who are already stretched thin. With the cost of living constantly rising, even basic comforts are becoming unaffordable for many.
Dire Living Conditions Without Proper Insulation
While the cost of living continues to climb, so does the struggle to live in homes that are barely fit for purpose. Many respondents reported living in properties without adequate insulation, which only adds to the strain. In fact, 90% of the survey’s respondents said their rental homes had no external wall insulation. For Meg, this has meant enduring harsh conditions. “When you’re in a heatwave, the last thing you want to do in heatwave is go into the kitchen, or when it’s storming and there’s water dripping onto your forehead if you want to use the oven,” she explained. These unsafe living conditions not only cause discomfort but also impact the health and well-being of residents.
Without proper insulation or weatherproofing, families are forced to live in unhealthy environments that worsen their daily struggles.
A Call for Action and Basic Standards
Maiy Azize, spokesperson for Everybody’s Home, has called on the government to address these issues. She highlighted the “heartbreaking” stories shared by survey respondents and stressed the importance of introducing basic rental standards. Without these changes, more Australians will continue to face these tough choices, living in poorly insulated homes, skipping meals and medical care, and using dangerous credit schemes just to survive. Azize also urged that any federal plans to reduce power prices must include improving the energy efficiency of homes. Without such measures, the cost of living will only continue to climb, further trapping vulnerable people in this cycle of struggle.
