Anglicare Report Highlights Housing Struggles
Anglicare Sydney's 2026 Rental Affordability Snapshot reveals a severe crisis in the Central West NSW housing market, where full-time work is often insufficient to secure affordable rentals.
The report, now in its 16th year, found that 99.3% of available rentals are unaffordable for single retirees on the Age Pension, while 99.5% are beyond reach for those on the Disability Support Pension.
No rental properties were affordable for individuals on JobSeeker or Youth Allowance, or for single parents with two children on JobSeeker. For those working full-time on minimum wage, only 2.1% of rentals were deemed affordable.
During the weekend of 14-15 March 2026, 437 private rentals were advertised in Central West, but only 5% were affordable for households on income support payments, a significant decrease from 2025.
Rob Stokes, Group Executive of Housing at Anglicare Sydney, stated, "The great Australian dream used to be having a house to call your own, near family and friends, and close to work. Now people are lucky to find a rental that doesn’t immediately tip them into financial distress."
Call for Government Action
Anglicare is urging the government to make significant changes in the upcoming Budget cycle to address the crisis. They emphasise the need for policy reforms to increase the supply of social and affordable housing.
Anglicare's proposals include tax reform, prioritising government land for housing projects, and introducing mandatory inclusionary zoning to ensure that new developments include affordable housing options.
They also call for increased financial assistance for renters, expanded funding for crisis accommodation, and improved supports for vulnerable groups, including those affected by homelessness and domestic violence.
Mr Stokes added, "To see the Central West rental market in this state is concerning. Anglicare is calling on the government to use this Budget cycle to make a meaningful difference to protect what is a human right, to have a safe and secure place to live."
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the supply-demand imbalance in the NSW rental market has remained high. Available rentals are still far below pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the urgency for new and affordable stock.
Anglicare Sydney continues to provide community services across NSW, advocating for change to ensure housing security for all Australians. The full Rental Affordability Snapshot 2026 is available online.
