Melanie Richardson's fear that she might end up living in a car with her two autistic children in central Queensland is never far from mind.
The mother of two rents a home in the Gladstone suburb of Tannum Sands through the federal government's National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), which provides subsidised rentals to people on lower incomes.
The scheme was set up by the former federal Labor government in 2008, but axed by the former Liberal government in 2014, with the last subsidised properties set to exit the scheme in 2026.
"We did find out that the NRAS program was ending not through our real estate agent, but through talking to neighbours," Ms Richardson said.
In recent months, the three-bedroom duplex she rents through the scheme has increased from $200 a week to $280 a week.
The home is set to exit the scheme next year, when it will then increase to full market value, which Ms Richardson said could be up to $430 a week.
"Being on a carer's pension as my source of income, my rent is currently about 50 per cent of my income," the 41-year-old said.
"So with travel to my children's paediatrician appointments and therapies, which can cost $400 a session, it's really, really tough … especially with cost-of-living increases.
"Fruit and vegetables have become a luxury item."
Ms Richardson added that social housing was not an alternative for her due to long waitlists.
Housing applications triple
Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) chief executive officer Aimee McVeigh said the number of applications for social housing across central Queensland was "soaring", just weeks out from the state government's housing summit.
She said the number of applications in Rockhampton doubled from 210 to 406 over the past five years, while in Gladstone they tripled from 136 to 383.
QCOSS' analysis of Social Housing Register data revealed residents in the Gladstone region waited an average 19.1 months on social housing waitlists, while those in Rockhampton waited an average 17.9 months.
"We are coming out of decades of under-investment into social and affordable housing," Ms McVeigh said.
"We know that the rental market is particularly tight in Rockhampton; the vacancy rate is at about 0.3 per cent, which is extremely tight.
"It basically means there are no affordable rentals available, so we're seeing people facing housing insecurity that are not even eligible for social housing."
Government invests $2.9 billion
A spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy said it was investing $2.9 billion in social and affordable housing.
"This will increase the social and affordable housing supply by almost 10,000 over the life of the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017–2027, including 7,400 new social and affordable homes over four years," the spokesperson said.
"This investment will include commencing 2,765 social homes under our QuickStarts Qld program, including 121 new homes commenced in the central Queensland region by 30 June 2025, through a planned investment of $46.4 million, supporting more than 146 full-time equivalent jobs."
A community 'feeling bleak'
With social housing waitlists ballooning, Ms Richardson says she cannot see a solution as the end of her NRAS subsidy nears.
She said there was a "very real possibility" that her only option would to live in her car with her two kids and two pets.
"I'm very fearful of that because I don't see any other alternative," Ms Richardson said.
"We're really quite desperate for a solution … everyone here is feeling pretty bleak about the whole situation."
The year's 'greatest challenge'
Federal Housing Minister Julie Collins said housing insecurity was "one of the greatest social and economic challenges we face in 2022".
But she said the government was expanding programs like the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, "making up to $575 million available to invest in social and affordable housing".
"This will support the [Anthony] Albanese Labor government's commitment to build 30,000 new social and affordable housing properties through the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund," Ms Collins said.
"I have twice convened meetings of state and territory housing ministers, as we work together to develop a new national housing and homelessness plan.
"We will also continue to work collaboratively to introduce a national housing supply and affordability council, to ensure the Commonwealth plays a leadership role in increasing housing supply and improving housing affordability."
The Queensland Department of Housing spokesperson said they were encouraging all NRAS approved owners to advise affected tenants as soon as possible about the future of their homes so they had sufficient time to plan.
"The department's frontline Housing Service Centres can assist tenants exiting the NRAS to help secure alternative housing through a range of services including RentConnect and private rental market products such as bond loans," the spokesperson said.
