Unable to afford rent, pensioner reveals worrying last resort: living in a car

The cost of living continues to rise, and with it, the burden on those who are already struggling to make ends meet. The reality of the situation is crushing — for those on fixed incomes, every dollar counts.

It's a heartbreaking dilemma that many people face every day: pay the bills or buy basic necessities.

Even pensioners, who have worked hard all their lives and deserve to enjoy their retirement, are not being spared. They are barely managing to survive on their fortnightly income, and now, even that is not enough.



Take Sandi Butler, for example. She's a pensioner living on the Gold Coast, and her rent has just gone up by 20 per cent, from $400 to $510. That may not sound like a lot, but it means she's now spending her entire weekly pension on rent alone. She has no money left over for food, bills, or any other essentials.

And to make matters even worse, the government supplement she's receiving will only last for three months. After that, she'll be on her own. It's a terrifying thought for someone who's already struggling to get by.


Screen Shot 2023-03-10 at 12.41.07 PM.png
As the cost of living continues to soar across the country, retirees are bearing the brunt of the burden. Credit: Unsplash/Jeremy Wong.



When Sandi spoke on a current affairs program about her situation, her distress was palpable. She never thought she'd be in this position, and it's taking a toll on her mental health. The stress is overwhelming, but she's doing her best to stay strong and keep going.

'At my time of life, it's something that I never thought that I would be doing,' she said.



The government's plan to slightly increase the pension by $37.50 (for singles) a fortnight was also met with fury and disappointment. To her, it's an insult and a 'slap in the face'.

The increase won't even make a dent in the soaring cost of her rent, let alone provide her with any financial relief. It's a devastating blow for someone who has worked hard all her life and deserves better in her retirement years.

In a previous article, we discussed what the recent slight increase in the pension can cover. If you're interested in learning more, you can find the article here.


Credit: 9 News Australia.


This sentiment is not unique, as thousands of pensioners across Australia share Ms Butler's plight. 'Too many people are just ending up on the streets,' she said.

The 81-year-old went on to say that it feels like her age group has become a burden for the government, and she's imploring them to start thinking about the Australian people instead of 'playing games' with their lives.



As each day passes, Sandi's situation becomes direr, and the possibility of having to live out of her car looms closer. It's a harrowing thought, one that no one should ever have to contemplate. But for Sandi, it's becoming a stark reality.

Sandi's situation is a stark reminder of the dire circumstances many pensioners in Australia are facing — they should be enjoying their golden years, not worrying about whether they'll be able to afford to pay their rent, or keep a roof over their heads.

Key Takeaways

  • Renters across the country are feeling the sting of rising rent costs.
  • Sandi Butler's rent went up by more than 20% from $400 to $510 a week.
  • People on the age pension will receive an increase of $37.50 a fortnight (singles) from March 20.
  • Ms Butler is faced with the possibility of having to live out of her car if she is unable to afford the bills.

The story of Sandi Butler is unfortunately not an isolated incident, and we reported a similar story just last month. At only 53 years old, Cathy has already become a victim of this escalating crisis, a reality that no one should ever have to face.

The devastating reality of homelessness became Cathy's only option, and she was forced to make the difficult decision to leave her home (and her cat) behind. With nowhere else to turn, she began living in her car, a situation becoming worryingly more common. Read the full story here in this article.



The last census data shows that the fastest-growing group of homeless Australians is made up of women aged 55 and over. These women, who should be enjoying their golden years, are instead left to fend for themselves on the streets, struggling to find a place to call home.

The CEO of Older Women's Network (OWN), Yumi Lee, has shed light on the root causes of this devastating trend. She believes that the gender pay gap, along with society's undervaluation of women's hard work, has left women disproportionately impacted.

It is a tragic truth that women who have spent their lives working hard and contributing to society are now left with nothing to show for it.


Screen Shot 2023-03-10 at 12.41.00 PM.png
Women aged 55 and over were reportedly the fastest-growing group of homeless Australians. Credit: Unsplash/Christian Langballe.



The plight of these women is made all the more heartbreaking because many of them have not had the chance to accumulate savings and superannuation, leaving them with no safety net to fall back on.

Retirement, a time that should be filled with joy and relaxation, has become a time of poverty and housing insecurity for many. It is a heartbreaking reminder of the ongoing inequality in our society, and the urgent need for change.

We stand with our community of seniors and pensioners, and we're committed to ensuring that they have the support they need to stay safe, healthy, and financially secure.



Members, we want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking story? Have you or someone you know been impacted by the housing crisis or the struggles faced by seniors and pensioners?

We also have to ask, how much do you think the Age Pension should be?

We believe that by sharing our stories and experiences, we can come together to find solutions and make a difference. So please, let us know in the comments what you think and share your experience!
 
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There are many single women who after a lifetime of work or full time volunteering are surviving on the pension. Not everyone has earned a wage allowing them to access a mortgage. Once you are past 70, governments want you to pass on quickly as you are considered a burden. They didn’t think that when they got your work & skills for free! No nursing home for me either. Better to die in a car than fading away ignored in government care!
My sister inlaw was a single woman and could only afford to save enough for a unit which 30 years later she is now 62 and still in that unit all paid off
 
I don't mean to be cruel but this is the very reason my husband and I purchased out house.
It was dam hard saving for a deposit and going without luxury items but we were doing this for our future.

While all of our friends and family went on overseas trips we took 1 week holidays up or down the coast

While all our friends purchased expensive luxurious cars we stuck with our old faithful

While our friends n family went out to expensive restaurants we chose picnics.

We thought twice what we bought but eventually we saved enough for a deposit for our house all while paying rent as well . We then worked hard and stuck to our budget and had our house paid off in 20 years. This was so hard but we did it .

And now most of our friends abd family are either still paying off a mortgage or paying rent because they lived for the moment and not the future.

We have many precious happy memories but all done on a budget.
For so many of us, hindsight is a wonderful thing...
 
Many many years ago I can remember an article where people were saying why would you bother buying a house when you can rent a house/unit for next to nothing. I sometimes wonder what they were doing now
 
I know of one family, mother has public housing unit, son on his own in public housing of three bedrooms, has partner in own public housing. That’s 5 extra bedrooms that could be shared with homeless people. All on pensions and only pay minimal amount of rent. Disgraceful when there are so many homeless.
My mother is 75 and an invalid and has been told she will be waiting at least another 10 years for public housing I think they need to prioritise who gets it and who doesn't.

I know a drug addict are on top of the list and they past go ..straight to the top
 
Your last sentence is so true ........ criminals/misfits etc. are lauded in this country!
Here's a Fun fact. I was walking along Molesworth Street in Lismore about three weeks before the floods last year and as they were speaking quite loudly, I couldn't help but overhear two guys speaking in front of me. "I'm heading back to prison for a couple of years again looks like " said one. "Where abouts" said the other "Grafton I guess was the reply.

"It's not so bad there, they have a good library and lots of courses, the foods good and I know a lot of blokes in there." "say hello to uncle .. and uncle... when you see them, I'll probably head back in before too long. It's hard out here eh."

I sat down so they could keep walking along chatting. It sure seems that if you're a gay male, or you know more than four people, already in prison, it's not at all something to be concerned about.

I personally do not socialize in either crowd, so I have no attraction to Prison.

It most certainly does seem to not at all be an issue for criminals to go to prison though, as it sure did sound like home to those two blokes. And they can keep it. LOL
 
Well if this lady has been renting for a while why didn't she apply for the rent assistance that anyone on a pension gets? The difference that small amount makes is fantastic. Also, she would get paid to help with her utilities. There must be more to her sob story as I am an 85 renter who gets all the extras on top of a pension. It is only the extras that make it viable for me to live in a rented house & pay my doctor once a month for my scripts. Pay for my medication, & eat as well.
 
I am very pleased for the people above who all seem to have done themselves proud over the years and seem to be living a comfortable life in their later years, good for you all. Unfortunately for varying reasons we are not all the same. I was going well until a number of years back when recessions and some significant illnesses drained me of my livelihood and assets. Since then I have been on a pension and cannot work to supplement my income. I am now 71 years old and live in a nice granny flat (hate the term) with my dog. We have been here for a little over 2 years. I am able to pay my rent of $340.00 per week with a bit left over for food/electricity and etc but there is nothing left at the end of the pension payment cycle and without the help of my fantastic friends I don't know what I will do. When I first moved here my rent was $295.00 per week inclusive of power so for the first 12 months I lived well and the essentials were still very affordable. At the end of my lease of 12 months, I expected a rental increase of around 5% which was the CPI rate at the time. My accountant landlord had other ideas. One month before the end of the lease he emailed me to advise that they would not be continuing with the current rental arrangements and I should make other arrangements in 1 month. By the way, this was over the Christmas period in 2021/2022. I was in shock as when I moved in the owner said they were looking for a long-term arrangement. After ringing my landlord I ascertained that they wanted a substantial increase in rent and this was their legal but unconscionable method of obtaining it. They wanted a rent of $340.00 per week plus electricity. I agreed to this and in return, the landlord agreed to a 2-year lease. The 2-year lease ends in January of 2024 so I am living on a knife edge wondering what will happen. I pay my rent 100% on time and do not give my Landlord any reasons to complain about my tenancy. My solution is that the single Pension should be increased to $1,000.00 per week plus any other benefits that we have been entitled to and the couples benefit should be increased to $2,000.00 per week plus benefits. OK, so where does the money come from? Easy, build one less atomic submarine per annum. Get that into ya Government.
 
Well if this lady has been renting for a while why didn't she apply for the rent assistance that anyone on a pension gets? The difference that small amount makes is fantastic. Also, she would get paid to help with her utilities. There must be more to her sob story as I am an 85 renter who gets all the extras on top of a pension. It is only the extras that make it viable for me to live in a rented house & pay my doctor once a month for my scripts. Pay for my medication, & eat as well.
I agree. Some people can be fussy where they want to live as well.
 
When my husband asked for a divorce, I didn’t know where to go. He only paid me a certain amount. I managed to get a long term mortgage. I worked at 3 jobs as a nurse. I didn’t go on holidays. At one time I couldn’t afford to go out for lunch or dinner with friends. So I would just have a coffee and tell them I had lunch already and wasn’t hungry. I promised myself that I would own my own house by the time I was 60. And I did. I took my super out when I was able to and paid my mortgage off. So I hardly had any super when I was forced into retirement due to back and neck injuries. You don’t get any compensation when you have injuries through nursing. So now lm in my seventies and I can’t complain about the pension. I manage quiet well. I sold my house and bought a cheap house in a retirement village. So I have some money if I should have any emergencies crop up.
Well said and well Planned.
 
I don't mean to be cruel but this is the very reason my husband and I purchased out house.
It was dam hard saving for a deposit and going without luxury items but we were doing this for our future.

While all of our friends and family went on overseas trips we took 1 week holidays up or down the coast

While all our friends purchased expensive luxurious cars we stuck with our old faithful

While our friends n family went out to expensive restaurants we chose picnics.

We thought twice what we bought but eventually we saved enough for a deposit for our house all while paying rent as well . We then worked hard and stuck to our budget and had our house paid off in 20 years. This was so hard but we did it .

And now most of our friends abd family are either still paying off a mortgage or paying rent because they lived for the moment and not the future.

We have many precious happy memories but all done on a budget.
I am so with you @Suzanne rose , we too scrimped and saved for our first home. We didn't have floor coverings, only painted concrete till the kids were into double digits. The first holiday we had was one where my boss took pity on us and let us use his holiday home for a week, Our kids would have been early teenagers by then. I can remember sitting and crying when our water heater packed up because we had no funds to fix it and for two months every bit of hot water we used we boiled on the stove. I had two kids under 3 at that time. Every bit of washing was done by hand as I didn't have a machine until both kids were in school. But what we did have, a roof over our heads, two well fed and loved kids, a family that laughed a lot, a sense of togetherness, us against the world and a joy in simple pleasures.
I am now reaping the benefit of those years, I have my retirement unit fully paid for so do not have that outlay. Do I have sympathy and compassion for people less fortunate, yes of course I do, everyone's path through life is different and there but for the grace etc. etc. I hope the Govt can see the light and find a way to help, there's nothing more demoralising than living without hope.
 
Here's a Fun fact. I was walking along Molesworth Street in Lismore about three weeks before the floods last year and as they were speaking quite loudly, I couldn't help but overhear two guys speaking in front of me. "I'm heading back to prison for a couple of years again looks like " said one. "Where abouts" said the other "Grafton I guess was the reply.

"It's not so bad there, they have a good library and lots of courses, the foods good and I know a lot of blokes in there." "say hello to uncle .. and uncle... when you see them, I'll probably head back in before too long. It's hard out here eh."

I sat down so they could keep walking along chatting. It sure seems that if you're a gay male, or you know more than four people, already in prison, it's not at all something to be concerned about.

I personally do not socialize in either crowd, so I have no attraction to Prison.

It most certainly does seem to not at all be an issue for criminals to go to prison though, as it sure did sound like home to those two blokes. And they can keep it. LOL
For some prison is home and better than living on the street.

I brother , my nephew and a sister have all been in jail and I know they don't want back in. I think it does depend what prison and who you know.

My nephew has done hard time and more than once. He is a muscular boy full of tattoos. He has been shot twice and pushed over a balcony needing head surgery inside he has protection because of who he is. This is the side of my family that I don't associate with too often .
 
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I think it's disgusting,,old people who most likely worked in factories to help with finances ,leaving their young children before school with a non family member at a small charge for those mornings,,those mums must have felt like a failure not having enough money to get them through,even with the husband's wage,it was a really hard time paying for a home but not everyone had the money to buy a home,the biggest expense of their lives...I also think it's a disgrace politicians and their many hanger's on including the wife or husband roam the world claiming to be on a learning excursion or talks with leaders of other countries while the elderly or families are homeless ,,that massive amount in fares ,accomodation ,meals and anything else they want,,it's supposed to be work not a holiday,,,,what happened to the use of Skype during Covid,,it served them well so why can't it be used again,,my heart aches for those Aussie's who can't afford a meal or a warm comfortable place to put their head down at night,,surely that's not to much to ask is it
 
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I think it's disgusting,,old people who most likely worked in factories to help with finances ,leaving their young children before school with a non family member at a small charge for those mornings,,those mums must have felt like a failure not having enough money to get them through,even with the husband's wage,it was a really hard time paying for a home but not everyone had the money to buy a home,the biggest expense of their lives...I also think it's a disgrace politicians and their many hanger's on including the wife or husband roam the world claiming to be on a learning excursion or talks with leaders of other countries while the elderly or families are homeless ,,that massive amount in fares ,accomodation ,meals and anything else they want,,it's supposed to be work not a holiday,,,,what happened to the use of Skype during Covid,,it served them well so why can't it be used again,,my heart aches for those Aussie's who can't afford a meal or a warm comfortable place to put their head down at night,,surely that's not to much to ask is it
I believe with this Government, and it seems any Government in this country now that yes, it is too much to ask, it would eat into their air fares, their Parliament house lunches and BMW staff car budget if they had to help Australians with taxpayer money.
 
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The cost of living continues to rise, and with it, the burden on those who are already struggling to make ends meet. The reality of the situation is crushing — for those on fixed incomes, every dollar counts.

It's a heartbreaking dilemma that many people face every day: pay the bills or buy basic necessities.

Even pensioners, who have worked hard all their lives and deserve to enjoy their retirement, are not being spared. They are barely managing to survive on their fortnightly income, and now, even that is not enough.



Take Sandi Butler, for example. She's a pensioner living on the Gold Coast, and her rent has just gone up by 20 per cent, from $400 to $510. That may not sound like a lot, but it means she's now spending her entire weekly pension on rent alone. She has no money left over for food, bills, or any other essentials.

And to make matters even worse, the government supplement she's receiving will only last for three months. After that, she'll be on her own. It's a terrifying thought for someone who's already struggling to get by.


View attachment 15300
As the cost of living continues to soar across the country, retirees are bearing the brunt of the burden. Credit: Unsplash/Jeremy Wong.



When Sandi spoke on a current affairs program about her situation, her distress was palpable. She never thought she'd be in this position, and it's taking a toll on her mental health. The stress is overwhelming, but she's doing her best to stay strong and keep going.

'At my time of life, it's something that I never thought that I would be doing,' she said.



The government's plan to slightly increase the pension by $37.50 (for singles) a fortnight was also met with fury and disappointment. To her, it's an insult and a 'slap in the face'.

The increase won't even make a dent in the soaring cost of her rent, let alone provide her with any financial relief. It's a devastating blow for someone who has worked hard all her life and deserves better in her retirement years.

In a previous article, we discussed what the recent slight increase in the pension can cover. If you're interested in learning more, you can find the article here.


Credit: 9 News Australia.


This sentiment is not unique, as thousands of pensioners across Australia share Ms Butler's plight. 'Too many people are just ending up on the streets,' she said.

The 81-year-old went on to say that it feels like her age group has become a burden for the government, and she's imploring them to start thinking about the Australian people instead of 'playing games' with their lives.



As each day passes, Sandi's situation becomes direr, and the possibility of having to live out of her car looms closer. It's a harrowing thought, one that no one should ever have to contemplate. But for Sandi, it's becoming a stark reality.

Sandi's situation is a stark reminder of the dire circumstances many pensioners in Australia are facing — they should be enjoying their golden years, not worrying about whether they'll be able to afford to pay their rent, or keep a roof over their heads.

Key Takeaways

  • Renters across the country are feeling the sting of rising rent costs.
  • Sandi Butler's rent went up by more than 20% from $400 to $510 a week.
  • People on the age pension will receive an increase of $37.50 a fortnight (singles) from March 20.
  • Ms Butler is faced with the possibility of having to live out of her car if she is unable to afford the bills.

The story of Sandi Butler is unfortunately not an isolated incident, and we reported a similar story just last month. At only 53 years old, Cathy has already become a victim of this escalating crisis, a reality that no one should ever have to face.

The devastating reality of homelessness became Cathy's only option, and she was forced to make the difficult decision to leave her home (and her cat) behind. With nowhere else to turn, she began living in her car, a situation becoming worryingly more common. Read the full story here in this article.



The last census data shows that the fastest-growing group of homeless Australians is made up of women aged 55 and over. These women, who should be enjoying their golden years, are instead left to fend for themselves on the streets, struggling to find a place to call home.

The CEO of Older Women's Network (OWN), Yumi Lee, has shed light on the root causes of this devastating trend. She believes that the gender pay gap, along with society's undervaluation of women's hard work, has left women disproportionately impacted.

It is a tragic truth that women who have spent their lives working hard and contributing to society are now left with nothing to show for it.


View attachment 15301
Women aged 55 and over were reportedly the fastest-growing group of homeless Australians. Credit: Unsplash/Christian Langballe.



The plight of these women is made all the more heartbreaking because many of them have not had the chance to accumulate savings and superannuation, leaving them with no safety net to fall back on.

Retirement, a time that should be filled with joy and relaxation, has become a time of poverty and housing insecurity for many. It is a heartbreaking reminder of the ongoing inequality in our society, and the urgent need for change.

We stand with our community of seniors and pensioners, and we're committed to ensuring that they have the support they need to stay safe, healthy, and financially secure.



Members, we want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking story? Have you or someone you know been impacted by the housing crisis or the struggles faced by seniors and pensioners?

We also have to ask, how much do you think the Age Pension should be?

We believe that by sharing our stories and experiences, we can come together to find solutions and make a difference. So please, let us know in the comments what you think and share your experience!

I think the problem is that people are fixed in their mind about where they want to live and also are unwilling to share. I have a friend who was living in her car and I asked 'Have you considered a share house or renting a room with another older lady?" and her response was "I dont want to share". I cannot understand this sentiment. Also there are lots of affordable rentals in country towns. See here, for example: https://www.realestate.com.au/rent/in-roma,+qld+4455/list-1 Roma has a hospital, lots of infastructure and is a centre for the arts. I think people just need to change their mindset.
 

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