Eviction, hardship and the housing crisis considers the broad range of costs faced by a household when they move, in particular, the costs associated with a forced move or eviction. The report estimates renting households in NSW are likely to face direct financial ‘core’ costs of around $2,500 when they move, and generally face ‘average’ costs of around $4,000 each time they move. Of course, the costs of eviction and its impact on renters’ lives - as well as for governments and communities – is much broader. And long lasting.
As we emerge from two years’ experience of directly responding to a health crisis, there is general discussion of what we have learned from Covid-19, and how we can ‘build back better’. The report hopes to intervene in this conversation, and provokes us to think again – and think harder – about how we can more effectively prevent eviction.