Australians are going to alarming lengths in order to secure housing, highlighting the escalating toll of the nation’s deepening housing crisis.

People are now turning down work in fear they will lose their spot on the public housing waitlist or social housing home if they earn too much money because they cannot afford to rent or buy a home in the private market.

A Perth resident was told to move out of his social housing home six months after he received a job, but it was during Covid when the housing crisis started emerging in Western Australia.

Brett Goring had been living in social housing for six months after being homeless, but almost became homeless again when there were were no rental homes to move into.

“I didn’t have property, I was living on a block and a lady there rented a room out to me,” he said.

“If she didn’t give me that room, I would have ended up homeless again.

“Basically, I felt like the reward for me getting my shit together was to become homeless.”

Mr Goring said it was not a matter of people not wanting to work but whether they wanted a job or to lose their home because they could no longer afford rent in the private market.

“I feel like I’m banging my head against the wall, I actually work in a homelessness centre with homeless people,” he said.

“I’m meant to provide hope for these people, and I’m actually working, but I can’t see myself ever being in my own place.”

Mr Goring said he was stuck in a gap because the private rental market was too expensive and he did not qualify for social housing.

“All I have to say is that it’s a basic human right that we have shelter,” he said.

“Things need to be done on more of a holistic approach, and I mean, look at the person and look at their case.

“It’s not fair, it’s not right, it makes no sense.

“We’re doing everything that the government wants of us… but we can’t afford accommodation or somewhere to sleep.”

Shelter WA’s report The Eligibility Trap analysed Western Australia’s income eligibility limits for social housing which determines how much a person can earn to be eligible for social housing.

The report highlighted in Perth, a single person can earn up to $551 per week to be eligible for social housing, which is about half the minimum wage and just above the disability and age pension.

It’s also the harshest limit in the nation, sitting below Queensland $609, NSW $795, Tasmania $797, Victoria $797 to $1173, South Australia $882, the ACT $925 to $2313 and the Northern Territory $1114.

A survey of 180 Western Australians living in social housing or on the waitlist found most people wanted to work but almost 9 in 10 managed their work hours because of income eligibility.

Almost half the people surveyed turned down work or additional hours to stay below the threshold and almost four in five were concerned that getting a job or working more hours would affect their ability to keep their house or place on the waitlist.

Single mum of four children Emily Keynes recently turned town a promotion in fear she would lose her social housing home if she earnt too much money.

Ms Keynes cannot afford to rent in the private market, where the median house price for a four bedroom home in Perth is almost $800 per week, according to the REIWA.

The mum of four said she worked part time at the maximum amount of hours and income she could earn before losing her social housing home.

“Recently I was offered a promotion at work, which I had to pass up and that was truly disappointing because I really love my job,” she said.

“I’m doing so well in my job, but I cannot progress as far as taking a pay rise or doing more hours.

“I really want the stability that I get with social housing, I’m too afraid to not be in this housing, because I don’t think I’ll be able to afford the rent in the current markets, and I don’t think I’d get the stability as well.

“Any minute the lease is up or the owners are moving back or something.

“It’s sort of like what do you do? Do you eat or do you pay rent?

“I am a bit stuck because I feel like I’m so lucky and grateful to have the stability of social housing, but I don’t want to be on minimum wage and minimum hours.”

Ms Keynes said without extra income she cannot afford extra expenses that came up, such as school camps, car registration, car services, clothing, socialising or petrol to get about every day.

“It makes me feel really disheartened because I want to be a good role model to my kids. I want to show them that you can, if you’re willing to work for it, you can choose what you want in life,” she said.

“I’d really like it if the income limit could be extended so that I could earn more, given there’s several members in the household and a car to run.

“I would hope that government and social housing would look, you know, look at each case by case, but definitely some wiggle room there to be able earn more.”

WA Housing Minister John Carey said he understood there continued to be pressure on housing and rental markets and more people were seeking the safety net of public housing.

He said at May 31, there were more than 23,600 people on the social housing waitlist and 8241 who were priority listed.

“Income eligibility limits are used to ensure support is given to those with the greatest need for housing,” he said.

“The state government is undertaking reforms to the social housing waitlist to ensure that housing is allocated to people with the greatest demonstrated need.”

Mr Carey said social housing income eligibility limits have increased nine times since 2020 and the state government was investing in affordable rentals managed by community housing providers for low income earners who might not be eligible for public housing.

“The state government is delivering on its record $10.8bn investment in housing related measures to ensure that more Western Australians have a home,” he said.

“Since July 2021, more than 4100 social and affordable housing homes have been delivered by the state government, with over 1000 under contract.

“Among these are major developments that incorporate affordable housing options, including ... build-to-rent projects ... in Perth.”

Shelter WA chief executive Kath Snell said the income eligibility limits for social housing was trapping people in poverty and unemployment.

“Renters face an impossible choice – work and risk losing their home, or stay unemployed and go without basics like healthcare,” she said.

“Many renters living in social housing and on the waitlist want to work but the system discourages it.

“In WA, working and being forced to leave safe, stable social housing only becomes a financially viable alternative if these renters can earn a six-figure salary.

“This report shows we need a real shake-up of income eligibility limits for social housing in WA.

“We need to raise the income eligibility limits, protect people for a period of time if they take up work, and have affordable housing pathways for people to transition out of social housing.

“Social housing is life-changing. It provides safe, secure, affordable homes for Western Australians who are priced out of the state’s sky-high private rental market.

“WA needs much more social housing but we must make sure people aren’t trapped in poverty once they get there.”