DESPITE having good and reliable incomes, a young nurse and electrician couple have endured countless rental rejections, and as a result, the Sunshine Coast youngsters have taken matters into their own hands and formed the Young People Housing Association.

Amber Barry and Saxon O’Neill, who are both 21, have channelled their disappointment into a positive direction, and the Young People Housing Association (YPHA) will be focused on achieving housing for those in their demographic.

Despite having good earnings, the couple have received “dozens and dozens” of rejections for rental properties from Birtinya to Peregian Springs and were dealt a cruel blow when one Buderim realtor told them during an inspection, ‘We don’t want people like you’, in reference to their young age.

“We were having a big, long conversation with the realtor, and she was essentially saying, ‘You’re young, unpredictable, the owners don’t know what you’re going to do with the place’. She wasn’t even tiptoeing around it,” Ms Barry explained.

Saxon further added that homeowners were reluctant to rent to younger people.

“The agent was saying, ‘It’s families and older couples’ – that’s kind of the baseline for every owner, there’s never an explicit direction to ‘Just accept anyone’.”

The difficult experience prompted Amber to write to local politicians, the Queensland and federal housing ministers, and even the Prime Minister.

Sunshine Coast Council’s Cr Joe Natoli responded by introducing the couple to retired builder, workplace educator and housing campaigner Geoff Clarke, who helped them with the recent launch of the Young People Housing Association Inc (YPHA Inc.) to campaign for wider recognition of the issue.

Mr Clarke has wide experience in housing, including in PNG and with indigenous communities.

“Nothing is impossible to solve, but we need to work together; we need the help of government departments, politicians, but also public servants, to work with us to try and find solutions to it,” Mr Clarke said.

“We have some answers of our own, which we’re happy to put forward, but for our ideas to work, we need the support of government agencies.”

Mr O’Neill reiterated a deeper hidden need for a solution to the young adults’ housing dilemma.

Saxon also explained that the repeated rejections take a huge toll.

“Being rejected over and over and being told that we aren’t the people they’re looking for impacted our mental health quite badly, so we could only assume that everyone else around our age looking for rentals is in the same situation – getting rejected, feeling like there’s no hope for us, and there’s no support at all,” Saxon explained.

“So, while we are trying to get affordable land to build affordable homes, it’s more about young adults getting a ‘fair go’ in housing, because, right now, we’re getting rejected before we even have a foot in the door.

“YPHA Inc is a community-driven voice for young Australians being locked out of housing. We advocate for policy change, affordable pathways, and practical alternatives so young people can secure a place to call home.”

More info on the YPHA
The Young People Housing Association Inc (YPHA Inc) has been established to engage with industry and elected representatives to provide a cohesive voice and advocacy for property rental and home ownership by young people.

The association has not-for-profit (NFP) status. To learn more or if you are in a position to support the campaign, please visit the website: www.ypha.org.au