Why a 19-Year-Old Aussie Student Faces Homelessness by 2025 in UAE

• READ MORE: Single photo reveals the dire reality of Australia's rental crisis

A college student has highlighted the challenges faced by youth today in finding accommodation in the 'unlivable' city of Sydney.

My name is Gemma, I am 19 years old, and I am at a critical juncture in my life. homelessness ," the woman from NSW mentioned this way TikTok video earlier this month.

Gemma mentioned that she would travel for more than two hours from the Central Coast to Sydney every week to attend two university classes.

However, this year she needs to go to classes four days a week, so she really had to relocate to Sydney.

"Envision spending two hours traveling to university and another two hours returning home, four days each week. When does one find the time for additional activities such as working and earning money to support themselves?" she asked.

Gemma mentioned that locating employment and housing in Sydney was incredibly difficult.

"She mentioned that someone contacted her via Flatmates.com offering a spot for $350 weekly, inclusive of utilities, which is where she currently stays," she explained.

Nevertheless, upon securing employment, she was taken aback when the tenant whose room she is subleasing presented her with yet another request.

She mentioned, 'Ever since landing a job, my flatmate has concluded that as I am now employed, I should contribute higher rent.'

'This isn't true since I barely have any money left for myself as most of it goes towards paying rent and covering car fuel costs.'

I'm unsure of where he picked up the notion that I am now able to afford higher rent.

Gemma began exploring alternative living options and submitted applications for several when she received a message from her roommate stating he was due $700 from her.

"I transfer him the $700; check my bank statement afterward, and I only have $400 left," she explained.

The rent is $350, and I have scheduled an appointment for my pink slip, which costs $50. Delaying this isn’t possible because I might face fines if stopped without one. Therefore, relocating seems to be my sole choice. Since my work shift begins at 5 am, commuting from home won’t be feasible either.

She mentioned that her choices merely to have a place to stay weren’t very promising.

"I hesitated to share this since it’s personal and not glitzy, but that’s exactly why I chose to discuss it," she stated.

'We all understand that Sydney ranks among the least livable cities globally for inhabitants.

I've got till early Sunday to secure a place to stay; otherwise, I might end up crashing in my vehicle.

Several viewers offered Gemma suggestions via the comments section.

"If you’re a full-time university student, consider exploring Centrelink benefits. You may receive additional support if you reside away from your family home. The amount varies based on your parents’ income; however, if eligible, it can be around $500 every two weeks," a commenter mentioned.

'Frankly, I would sacrifice the car; it’s such a significant cost,' someone else commented.

However, the people of Sydney weren't very sympathetic, especially concerning her earlier travel from the Central Coast.

"Wait till you secure a job and spend two hours commuting back and forth in Sydney for five days a week," someone commented.

Another person commented, 'No ill will intended, but many folks residing in Sydney typically spend one to two hours commuting each way for their weekday jobs.'

Several people noted that she was not really at risk of becoming homeless.

"You're close to being 'homeless' since you refuse to return home. However, for numerous individuals, this isn’t a viable choice as they either lack a home or weren't born in this country. Legally speaking, though, you wouldn’t truly be considered homeless because you could always go back," someone commented.

The typical weekly rental cost for a unit in Sydney is approximately $700. based on data from SQM Research made public in April .

The overall count of unoccupied homes across the country increased to 39,378 in April 2025, marking an uptick of 18.7 percent compared to the 33,177 vacancies recorded in April 2024.

In Sydney, the empty property rate raised to five percent from 1.2 percent in April 2024, with job openings rising 20.8 percent to 10,784 units.

Read more

Share :