Bartender and student William Connell lives in university student accommodation in Newtown, in Sydney’s inner west.

Rent for his 13 square metre studio apartment sets him back $1267 a fortnight.

He says rent is so expensive he’s been left with no other option – his parents, who currently live and work in Singapore, have had to help supplement his rent.

“I could not afford this place, I’d have to live with my grandparents in Cronulla if my parents didn’t [help me] pay,” he said.

“It’s just insane, I would never be able to afford it with my part-time job… I probably get paid $600 a week, which doesn’t make my rent.”

Connell was born in Sydney, but his family moved to Singapore and Hong Kong when he was a child.

He moved back to Sydney alone last February to attend university.

Connell studies computer science. It is likely he will be well paid when he moves into his career but he still fears he won’t be able to live independently for a number of years.

“All my mates who also live in student accommodation say they are going to move back to their parents after graduation, but I don’t really get much of a choice,” he said.

“I just don’t know when I’ll be independent. I always thought I’ll go to uni and be independent but, I’m still on my dad’s dime…I don’t know when that will end.”

He says when he does graduate from university and starts working, the majority of his income will “immediately go straight to rent”.

“I can move in with my grandparents but that’s not really the best option as a young adult,” he said.

Connell acknowledged that he is lucky to have the support of his parents to make rent, telling 9News.com.au that many of his friends have no idea when they’d be able to move out of home.

The issue isn’t anything new.

Homelessness Australia revealed in 2023 that Youth Allowance payments weren’t enough for a young person to afford both rent and basic necessities.

Advocates say little has changed since then.

“What we know most definitely is that young people are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis and by the cost of living crisis,’ CEO of NSW’s peak body for youth homelessness, YFoundations, John Macmillan said.

“The broader national statistics are clear that housing increasingly takes up a larger and larger proportion of people’s available incomes.” 

While Connell tries to avoid moving in with his grandparents, Macmillan says some young people have no other choice.

“Particularly a form of homelessness called couch surfing… is the most predominant form of homelessness for young people,” Macmillan said.

“That is a more significant form of homelessness for young people than for adults…you don’t actually have a place to live, so you’re staying with friends, family, and whoever else you can.”