Rental prices rise, vacancies disappear as Snowy Monaro town struggles to balance new arrivals and workers

After raising five children, fostering more than 100, and having a successful career in the Australian Defence Force, Karen Morris never expected to be sleeping on the floor in her granddaughter’s bedroom.

But with rental vacancy rates in many regional areas at an all-time low it became the 63-year-old’s only option.

Ms Morris began looking for rental properties in the Cooma region two years ago with a dream to be closer to her growing family while continuing care for her…