Housing prices have gone through the roof.

Young families increasingly reliant on insecure rental housing
New research by Australians for Affordable Housing has shown that parents with children are increasingly foregoing home ownership. Using census data, the research shows that there were almost 35,000 more Victorian families with children in rental accommodation in 2011 than there were in 2006. This represents an increase of 2.6 per cent in the rate of families in rental accommodation.

Housing inaction forces families to rely on homelessness support
New government research has shown the continued high demand for homelessness services in Australia, and highlighted the need for the Government to address the causes of pressure on homelessness services, according to Australians for Affordable Housing. Continue reading »

Cities infrastructure report shows under-investment in affordable housing
The State of Australian Cities report, released by the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, on Tuesday 4 December 2012, highlights the extent to which Australians are being priced out of their cities. Failing to respond is to risk social dislocation and a deepening of the housing crisis.

All industry prices are up, bricklayers, chippies, plumbers, steel fabrication, see report here.

“With this report we see more evidence of the severity of the national housing security and affordability crisis.” said Joel Pringle, Campaign Manager for Australians for Affordable Housing. Continue reading »

Australia second only to Hong Kong in housing unaffordability stakes
Australia is second only to Hong Kong for the cost of housing for the average household, according to an international survey of 325 housing markets.

The 8th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey has found that all major Australian housing markets are ‘severely unaffordable’, with Sydney and Melbourne coming, respectively, third and fourth most unaffordable cities in the world. Continue reading »

Affordable Housing advocates welcome tentative steps towards new Homelessness funding agreement
Affordable Housing advocates have welcomed today’s announcement from the Federal Minister for Housing, Brendan O’Connor, at today’s Press Club address that the Commonwealth has committed to one year’s interim funding for the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness, subject to matched funds from the states and territories, while a new longer-term Agreement is negotiated..

“ABS figures released this week have shown us that homelessness is on the rise, and we know that underinvestment in affordable housing supply has been a major reason for this” said Joel Pringle, Campaign Manager for Australians for Affordable Housing. Continue reading »

Increase in Homelessness shows need for renewal of key Commonwealth – State funding agreements
New ABS data showing increases in Homelessness across Australia comes at a time of uncertainty for the funding of homelessness and affordable housing programs.

The key Commonwealth – State funding agreements, the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) and the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA), are set to expire at the end of this financial year and funding for the National Rental Affordability Scheme is coming towards an end. The lack of commitment to extending the funding under these agreements risks exacerbating homelessness and housing stress. Continue reading »