A range of Federal and State Government housing policies over the past decade have combined with a recent boom in the housing market to dramatically reduce the affordable housing options of low income earners in Tasmania. Most low income households no longer have access to the public housing sector. They are forced into the private rental market in which they face significant barriers and disadvantages. Many of these households pay more than 25% of their income on housing costs, which leaves them with insufficient income to purchase the other essentials of life. Low income earners in the Tasmanian private rental market have little security of tenure, frequently moving up to once per year.