Everybody’s Home to convene Australia’s first People’s Commission into the Housing Crisis

04/04/2024

As housing affordability remains at crisis levels, Everybody’s Home will convene a People’s Commission to spotlight and trigger change for this top concern among Australians.

The People’s Commission into the Housing Crisis, to be held in May over at least two days, will hear from community members and organisations on the frontline of housing insecurity.

Former Labor Senator for NSW Doug Cameron and University of Sydney housing expert Professor Nicole Gurran will act as Commissioners. 

Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said: “The People’s Commission into the Housing Crisis comes at a critical moment for the nation. Housing affordability has never been so dire and is one of the most pressing concerns for voters who will be heading to the polls next year. 

“What’s different about this inquiry is that it’s run from the grassroots and backed by hundreds of frontline organisations. The Commission will hear from the people at the centre of the housing crisis including renters in severe housing stress, people with crippling mortgages, and homelessness services who are struggling daily and desperate for their representatives to fix this national emergency for good.”

Former Labor Senator for NSW Doug Cameron said: “I am honoured to have been asked to join Prof Gurran as co-Commissioner on an independent Commission into the housing crisis. Secure, affordable housing is fundamental if Australians are to access the opportunities and meet the challenges of a modern, complex and predominantly wealthy society.

“The dominance of neoliberal politics has resulted in housing being treated as an instrument of individual wealth creation and the “market” instead of a human right that facilitates effective participation in a good society and the economy. As more Australians are financially excluded from home ownership and as governments increasingly abandon the concept of public housing, the need for proven solutions, at scale, has never been more important.”

University of Sydney housing expert Professor Nicole Gurran said: “A mountain of research highlights the deepening social and economic costs of Australia’s housing policy failure. The People’s Commission is an important and rare opportunity to centre the voices of those at the frontline of the crisis, and to develop genuine responses. The consequences of inaction will persist for generations.”

Everybody’s Home will write to Housing and Social Service Ministers today inviting them to take part in the process.