By MARC MCGOWAN
MICAH Hughes is one of the self-confessed “reasonably lucky” ones.
A Tenants Union of Victoria study still categorises the Upwey-raised man as a low-income earner who suffers from “housing stress”, in that he spends more than 30 per cent of his income on rent.
Mr Hughes, 34, rents a Box Hill home alongside a friend, whose girlfriend’s mother owns it, after years of bouncing between friends’ places and his parents’ home.
He receives a fortnightly Newstart allowance of $520, with $160 of that going towards rent.
“I’m in a private rental with a friend, so it’s reasonably cheap for myself,” Mr Hughes said.
“But I do know other people who are going through real estate agencies and their rent is just ridiculous – they’ve got $20 or $30 a fortnight left.”
Mr Hughes said he was left with about $100 a fortnight after rent, groceries and bills, but did not have his driver’s licence or own a car, because he couldn’t afford the costs involved.
That scenario makes it tough for him to gain employment.
“I’m actually qualified as a personal carer and I’ve got my retail certificate and I’ve been looking for those sorts of jobs and factory hand sorts of jobs, but I’ve had little or no luck,” Mr Hughes said.
“A couple of employers I have rung back have said not having my licence was the main issue against me.
“I’m basically looking up and down the train line for suitable employment, but there’s not much out there.”
Mr Hughes has not had a paid job since 2000.
He volunteers with Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service and has previously done so with Knoxbrooke, which provides support services for people with a disability.
Mr Hughes started a community services certificate through the Salvation Army, but the 26-week course was reduced to 12 and he needs to wait for a new course to begin to complete the certificate.
“I’ve actually been in similar situations to a lot of the clients we have come through the door,” he said.
“I’ve had my own substance (abuse) issues and have been homeless – you name it, I’ve done it.”
Mr Hughes spent more than six months sleeping in a rolled-up section of carpet behind an Indian restaurant in South Melbourne as a 12-year-old.
He washed dishes and performed other restaurant duties to remain there.
Mr Hughes reconciled with his parents and spent the next six months living at the family’s holiday home in the Mornington Peninsula.
“I was on every single drug under the sun when I originally came back to my parents’ place and said, ‘I need some time to straighten up’,” he said.
Mr Hughes said his current living arrangement was “pretty much a permanent deal”, but feared where he would be if it ever ended.
Department of Human Services statistics in March this year showed only 0.4 per cent of one-bedroom rentals and 12.1 per cent of three-bedroom rentals were affordable in metropolitan Melbourne.
