Singles struggle to afford housing as cost of living rises

Key points

• Louise Taylor, a pensioner north of Brisbane, struggles to find affordable rental housing as a single person. She fears future rent increases may force her to move in with her daughter or into a share house.
• The 'singles tax' means single-income households face higher living costs, with single people spending over $770 more per month than couples.
• Older women, particularly those over 65, are at growing risk of housing insecurity and homelessness, with systemic issues like lower-paid work and difficulty building assets contributing to the problem.