New report reveals Aussies turning down work to stay in public housing as nation’s housing crisis worsens
News.com.au
July 4, 2026
Single mum Emily Keynes recently turned down a promotion fearing she would lose her social housing home if she earnt too much money, because she cannot afford rent in the private market.
Australians are going to alarming lengths in order to secure housing, highlighting the escalating toll of the nation’s deepening housing crisis.
People are now turning down work in fear they will lose their spot on the public housing waitlist or social housing home if they earn too much money because they cannot afford to rent or buy a home in the private market.
A Perth resident was told to move out of his social housing home six months after he received a job, but it was during Covid when the housing crisis started emerging in Western Australia.
Perth resident Brett Goring was told to move out of a social housing home six months after he received a job.
Brett Goring had been living in social housing for six months after being homeless, but almost became homeless again when there were were no rental homes to move into.
“I didn’t have property, I was living on a block and a lady there rented a room out to me,” he said.
“If she didn’t give me that room, I would have ended up homeless again.
“Basically, I felt like the reward for me getting my poo together was to become homeless.”
Mr Goring said it was not a matter of people not wanting to work but whether they wanted a job or to lose their home because they could no longer afford rent in the private market.
“I feel like I’m banging my head against the wall, I actually work in a homelessness centre with homeless people,” he said.
“I’m meant to provide hope for these people, and I’m actually working, but I can’t see myself ever being in my own place.”
Mr Goring said he was stuck in a gap because the private rental market was too expensive and he did not qualify for social housing.
“All I have to say is that it’s a basic human right that we have shelter,” he said.
“Things need to be done on more of a holistic approach, and I mean, look at the person and look at their case.
“It’s not fair, it’s not right, it makes no sense.
“We’re doing everything that the government wants of us… but we can’t afford accommodation or somewhere to sleep.”
A Shelter WA report revealed Western Australia’s income eligibility limit for social housing is the harshest in the nation.
Shelter WA’s report The Eligibility Trap analysed Western Australia’s income eligibility limits for social housing which determines how much a person can earn to be eligible for social housing.
The report highlighted in Perth, a single person can earn up to $551 per week to be eligible for social housing, which is about half the minimum wage and just above the disability and age pension.
It’s also the harshest limit in the nation, sitting below Queensland $609, NSW $795, Tasmania $797, Victoria $797 to $1173, South Australia $882, the ACT $925 to $2313 and the Northern Territory $1114.
A survey of 180 Western Australians living in social housing or on the waitlist found most people wanted to work but almost 9 in 10 managed their work hours because of income eligibility.
Almost half the people surveyed turned down work or additional hours to stay below the threshold and almost four in five were concerned that getting a job or working more hours would affect their ability to keep their house or place on the waitlist.
Single mum of four children Emily Keynes turned down a promotion in fear she would lose her social housing home.
Ms Keynes cannot afford to rent in the private market, where the median house price for a four bedroom home in Perth is almost $800 per week, according to the REIWA.
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