PROPERTY
WA rentals out of reach for thousands on income support
More and more West Australians relying on income support or minimum wage are falling through the cracks in housing, with fewer rentals than ever being accessible to those struggling most.
One such struggling renter is Nicolette Murphy who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010 and has since been forced to move homes multiple times when rent inevitably exceeded what she could pay.
Ms Murphy has to use her entire disability pension to pay rent, relying on her parents in the UK to support her for buying things like groceries and completing online surveys to earn some modest yet crucial funds.
She pays $600 per week, a marked increase from the $380 per week when she first moved elsewhere in the suburb around 15 years ago.