Young inner-city Melburnians are choosing to be homeless in an attempt to save money and better their lifestyle.
Sleeping in cars has long been associated with backpackers and the unemployed but the rising cost of city living and the decline in rental property availability is luring some workers and students out of houses and into cars.
Claire Xian decided to forgo basic living luxuries late last year and move permanently into her sedan to save money to travel.
“I was somewhat forced into it because I wasn’t very financially organised when I booked my big adventure,” she said.
“It saves me a bunch of money.”
She found herself enjoying the flexibility and lifestyle of living in a car.
“I love the way it forces me into being more social. I can’t really just hang out in my car so I’m more inclined to go out all the time,” she said.
“When I’m not working I park mostly in North Melbourne out the front of a café I love so I can roll out of my car in the morning and sit in the café for hours chatting to the staff and charging my phone.”
She showers at work and uses a friend’s house as her mailing address.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are 11,500 youth in Victoria without stable accommodation on any given night.
But the St Vincent de Paul Society says sleeping in cars is often not counted in statistics and is considered hidden homelessness.
St Vincent de Paul Society Chief Executive, John Falzon, believes hidden homelessness is a real issue.
“There can be no higher priority for a nation that prides itself on being progressive. For in a nation as prosperous as ours there should be no place for homelessness,” he said.
Frontyard Integrated Youth Services Manager, Wayne Merrit, says it’s difficult to understand why some youth are choosing to live rough.
“No-one would want to live in a car where it’s cold,” he said.
“[Frontyard] might need to have a look into why people are choosing to live rough, is youth allowance not enough or is it because they can’t get part time work as students.”
High living costs and low-incomes are making it hard for young people to live a normal life and fund travel, according to Mr Merrit.
There’s no law preventing people sleeping in vehicles, provided it’s registered and parked legally, but the safety of car-dwellers is concerning.
“At night time it’s quite dangerous in Melbourne,” he said.
“Many young people’s cars have also been towed away. That’s their home, it’s been towed away and it’s gone.”
Yet Animal Technician student, Liam McEvoy, said he’s never felt unsafe sleeping in his van that he parks behind a Brunswick sharehouse.
“Living in the van is great, very mobile. It can be cold sometimes but I save a lot of money,” he said.
Seeing friends enjoy living in their cars and save on rent inspired Liam to move into his van.
He stores his necessary possessions underneath the bedframe he built with milk crates.
“I’m happy to do the hard yards now because I can and I’ve got the van,” he said.
He contributes to the house’s bills in exchange for bathroom use, power and living areas.
For him, it’s about living simply.
“It’s different, it’s very meaningful. I think everyone should live life with just necessities,” he said.
For these youth, living in a car is a short-term solution to save money but homeless support organisations remain concerned about the rise in hidden homelessness across Victoria.
