How to tackle Australia’s housing challenge: Submission to the National Housing and Homelessness Plan

Abstract

Australia’s housing crisis has been building for a long time. Too many Australians remain homeless. Many more struggle to afford to keep a roof over their head and still pay the bills. Others can’t find a home close to where they want to live and work, or a home to call their own.

Low-income renters are suffering the most, finding it harder to secure stable tenure and make ends meet. Historically, we have not built enough housing to meet the needs of Australia’s growing population.

Building more housing benefits everyone, but there is also an urgent need for more government support to help house vulnerable Australians and reduce homelessness. Australia’s social housing stock has stagnated in recent decades. The National Housing and Homelessness Plan should give priority to constructing new social housing for people at serious risk of homelessness. But boosting social housing is expensive: it should be reserved for people most in need, and at significant risk of becoming homeless for the long term.

Access the full summary and download the Report at www.grattan.edu.au.