Haylee Semmens enjoys a stroll through her garden, sharing local history with her carer, Emma Harris, who hangs clothes on the line. Their bond has grown through time and familiarity. However, Harris faces challenges in finding stable housing on Tasmania's east coast. "I was going to be homeless," she said. "It's not a nice feeling not having a home and not having stability and security." After months of searching and a social media appeal, Harris and her dog, Gypsy, are set to move into a rental in Scamander. Despite her relief, she believes the housing situation in Australia should not be this difficult.

A recent report from Anglicare highlights a growing crisis, revealing that essential workers like nurses, teachers, and paramedics can afford only a small fraction of rental properties nationwide. "You've got like 10 people looking at one property and only one of these people are going to get it, and there's literally nothing else on the market," Harris noted. She expressed concern about potentially having to leave the area, which would impact her ability to work with her clients.

The Break O'Day municipality, where Harris resides, has seen its population grow from 6,516 in 2019 to 7,163 in 2024. However, housing development has not kept pace with this increase. Demographer Lisa Denny indicated that the population is expected to continue rising due to migration and longer life expectancy. "Break O'Day has aged at quite a rapid rate, driven predominantly by older people moving to the area and younger people leaving it," she said. Denny also noted that more than half of the residents in some council areas are projected to be aged 65 and older within the next 15 to 20 years.

The decline in long-term rental availability is partly attributed to the pandemic, according to Heidi Howe, a real estate agent in St Helens. Property prices in the area have surged by 20 percent in the past two years. "A lot of our investment property owners purchased them before COVID, so when the prices rose through COVID, they're like, 'I should be cashing in on this now,'" Howe explained. Many long-term rentals have disappeared as buyers have entered the market.

Howe pointed out that the region lacks new housing developments, exacerbating the shortage. "When there's that many people moving to an area, there's not enough houses to give everyone accommodation," she said. Additionally, the rental market is not particularly lucrative for investors, as local incomes limit what residents can afford to pay.

Local councils acknowledge the need for smaller housing options to meet demand but emphasize that state government support is essential for building infrastructure. Denny suggested that housing strategies should consider the diverse needs of residents at different life stages.

Break O'Day Mayor Mick Tucker noted the appeal of the coastal lifestyle but stressed the limitations councils face in addressing housing shortages. "All the approvals under the sun don't actually build houses," he said. Tucker called for economic stimulus from state and federal governments to encourage developers to construct new homes. He also advocated for updates to outdated planning systems and land use management strategies.

In response to the housing crisis, the state government is exploring an infrastructure contribution policy and working towards a unified planning scheme to enhance efficiency. Additionally, the federal government has introduced tax incentives for build-to-rent projects and is focusing on expediting housing developments awaiting assessment under environmental regulations.

As the housing crisis continues, the community remains hopeful for solutions that will provide stability and security for residents like Harris and others in similar situations.