Brimbank has among the most affordable properties for people to rent on the minimum wage, but its tough reading for households with income support means a new report has revealed.
Anglicare Victoria’s 2025 rental affordability snapshot shows the increasing struggle people with low income sources have to find rental accommodation.
The report looks at available rental properties, which measures their affordability for people receiving minimum wage or relying on income support payments.
In Brimbank, the percentage of listings of affordable and appropriate households on the minimum wage was the third most in Metropolitan.
Of the 968 properties listed during the reporting period, 394 or 40.7 per cent were deemed affordable.
That was an increase of 177 properties in the previous 12 months.
Melton had clearly the most affordable properties, with 1152 properties out of 1602, or 71.9 per cent were seen as affordable.
For households receiving at least one sort of income support or a pension it’s slim pickings.
Only 0.2 per cent of houses or just two from 968 properties were affordable in Brimbank.
Melton also only had 0.2 per cent properties available..
Anglicare Victoria chief executive Paul McDonald said for people getting by on support payments it was almost impossible to secure a property.
According to this year’s data there are no available rentals in the state that are affordable for singles on Youth Allowance or JobSeeker.
“After decades of under-investment, Victoria has the lowest proportion of social housing in the country,” he said.
“Over 65,000 Victorians are currently on the public housing waiting list. The number of young people under the age of 25 on the waitlist is growing, as is the number of those waiting for housing that are fleeing family violence.
“The fact is, we need at least 60,000 new social housing properties over the next decade to meet demand. Right now we are seriously lagging and every day more people are being left behind.”
The report also stated there was a high level of homelessness in Brimbank.
