00:02Packing the car with his belongings is a regular routine for single dad Steve Whittington.
00:07He's been renting his place out on Airbnb during school holidays in order to pay his mortgage,
00:13while he and his kids stay at mates places or go camping.
00:16This is paid the mortgage for this month. Next month I don't know what's happening.
00:23Currently out of work, successive rate rises have now left him thinking about selling his home of 25 years.
00:29Sick to the stomach, frankly. It's our space.
00:33Across the state, more and more Victorians are under mortgage stress.
00:37It's always the family that cops it.
00:39It scares me honestly, I think it's terrifying.
00:41I'm actually selling my house, going renting.
00:43And more and more are reaching out for help.
00:46We've seen a doubling of people reaching out for assistance between January and August this financial year.
00:52Mortgage Stress Victoria is a not-for-profit financial counselling service.
00:56It's had to stop taking on new customers as its caseload soars.
01:00Previously, we serviced a group of people that were much more likely to be welfare recipients.
01:07We're now seeing an increasing proportion of our clients who are employed.
01:11Last financial year, more than 41,000 calls were made to the National Debt Helpline in Victoria.
01:175,000 more calls than the previous year.
01:19In regional Victoria, already stretched mortgage holders say they're being forced to make tough decisions.
01:25Do I need this thing? Should I buy this? How much do I need to save?
01:30Quite often it's a bill or a mortgage.
01:33And with the next Reserve Bank decision in November, homeowners are hoping there won't be another rate hike.
01:39We definitely have to sit back and think about whether we cut the ass or get rid of it.
01:43It's going to be a very sad Christmas if interest rates go up again, that's for sure.
01:49You
