Hunter based charity, Samaritans is calling on the government to permanently increase welfare support payments and the supply of housing in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
Samaritans has released the latest Rental Affordability Snapshot which shows only 5.5 percent of all properties for rent across the region are considered affordable for those on low incomes.
The report says Australia's worst drought, a devastating bushfire season and the COVID-19 pandemic have left people homeless, jobless or both and more must be done to address housing stress.
Samaritans CEO, Brad Webb says Australians are experiencing their greatest financial and emotional hardships ever, some for the first time.
"In 2020, this scenario of hardship is becoming a reality for some who never thought this might be their situation. This year's research demonstrates that increases to income support should be open to all people in need, and they should be permanent. We need an independent body to set and monitor social security rates so Australia will never again trap people in the poverty cycle," he said.
