ELDER STUCK FOR HOUSING IN RENTAL CRISIS

Victor Ronan. Credit: Supplied.

BY GERARD MAZZA

A Noongar Elder has been given thirty days to vacate his home and is unable to find alternative housing in the midst of Perth’s rental crisis.

Victor Ronan, 77, has worked in prisons for 15 years as part of the Aboriginal Visitor’s Scheme, providing support to First Nations inmates.

He’s unable to renew the lease on his Gosnells home as the property is being sold.

Mr Ronan has asked an advocacy centre for help but so far has not found another home.

He says the situation is so overwhelming he tries to “block it out.”

“I know that it’s there and I know that I’ve got to do something,” he said.

“I haven’t got any plans because my family can’t put me up, because they’ve got their own families in there.”

Mr Ronan’s real estate agent has suggested some properties he could apply for, but he says they are all so expensive he could not afford them without working additional hours.

According to Domain Research, a record low of 0.04% of rental properties in Perth are vacant.