And why wouldn't we? Given the enormous toll the pandemic is inflicting, in all manner of ways, it only makes sense that we would crave some normality again.

That is especially so for those who have to bear a financial cost, given that on the health front there hasn't been any impact on the Border aside from the availability of a vaccine.

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Businesses, if they can given the enormous hit taken, will be able to re-calibrate towards a return to normal operations where they can both provide for themselves, their families and their staff and plan for the future.

But for many, whether there's a pandemic or not, the daily struggle will continue.

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What has made that struggle worse is the nature of the cascading impact of the pandemic through the community.

In particular, a rise in housing-related stress was predicted and, as the months now turn into years, has turned into a new challenging reality.

The Border region had already been experiencing strong rental demand and, as a consequence, high prices for private rentals.

And public housing is, as has long been the case, a neglected part of the equation with a long wait for access.

Mission Australia's Peta Larsen has seen the consequences for ordinary people of the growth in rental costs.

For instance, she says, a $200 rental in Albury before the pandemic is now in the region of $270.

In addition, vacancy rates are critically low.

All these issues are what Mission Australia and the Country Women's Association say emphasises the dire need for more social and affordable housing in rural and regional areas.

It's a call that's certainly been made many times before by those who work in the field on the Border.

But unfortunately, it must be made again - that there needs to be a genuine effort by government to considerably lift the investment in affordable social housing.

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