Ways to alleviate housing stress

WE OFTEN hear the term “housing stress” being bandied about, what exactly is housing stress and what can be done to alleviate it?
It is widely accepted that any household paying more than 30 per cent of take home household income equates to housing stress. Rental or mortgage stress and financial hardship are no longer limited to low income families and Centrelink recipients. Tight budgets are now impacting more widely on middle Australia.
Irrespective of whether you are renting or paying a mortgage if you are paying more than the 30 per cent of household income for housing, you could be considered to be experiencing housing stress. The cheaper end of rental market properties often have less energy efficient appliances and are not well insulated resulting in higher energy costs.
If you are having difficulty paying your rent, there are housing services that may be able to assist you and it is important to seek advice early.
Banks and financial institutions can sometimes assist with short term financial hardship arrangements. If you are having difficulty paying your mortgage it is essential to talk with your financial institution as soon as possible.
On a completely different note, Responsible Gambling AwarenessWeek (RGAW) is being held 20 to 23May. It is a pro-active partnershipbetween the Government, gambling industry, gambler’s help and local government.
The week deliberately focuses on responsible gambling, not problem gambling, and aims to ensure people understand the importance of keeping their gambling under control. The key themes for RGAW 2011 are:
Knowledge – Be informed so responsible decisions about gambling can be made. This includes provision of information about how the machines work and odds of winning.
Balance – Decisions around gambling should be made in the broader sense of lifestyle and entertainment choices to maintain a balance.
Control – When gambling set appropriate time and financial limits.
Tips to remember when gambling:
• Don’t let gambling take over your life
• Set yourself a limit and don’t exceed
• Take just your allocated amount of money
• Leave your ATM card at home
• If it’s no longer fun walk away
For more information on your housing rights and options, contact EACH financial counselling on 98711800 for free and confidential information. For additional information, or assistance with gambling, contact Gamblers Help Eastern on 1300 131 973.