Grim reality of housing crisis on display in new report

14/11/2023

Everybody’s Home says the latest Rental Affordability Index is a grim reminder of the urgent need to end Australia’s social housing shortfall.

The report by National Shelter-SGS Economics and Planning shows rental affordability continues to deteriorate across many parts of the country.

Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said the federal government’s investments in social housing must match the scale of the housing crisis. 

“Across Australia, renting a home has become completely unaffordable for working households and totally out of reach for those on income support,” Ms Azize said.

“The growing rates of housing stress across the country are getting to be out of control. Renters are stretching their budgets to the limit, often at the expense of basic necessities. 

“This report shows just how crucial it is for the federal government to end the nation’s social housing shortfall. Within the next 20 years, Australia needs to build an additional one million homes to end that shortfall.

“We also need the government to strengthen renters’ rights by putting limits on rent increases and reforming the tax system so that it stops pushing up prices.

“The federal government must seize the opportunity to create generational, systemic change. The growing number of Australians who will be lifelong renters deserve a housing system that works for them not against them.”