HOUSING is set to remain at centre stage of the national political debate leading into the election, with new research showing the expansion of low cost rental housing will be a vote changing issue in see-sawing electorates, while frontline organisations experience their worst summer on record.
New research from Redbridge for the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) and PowerHousing Australia (PHA) shows 73% of Australians in 24 of the most contestable electorates say housing affordability will be important in influencing their vote.
The research shows 84% believe ensuring Australians have safe and stable housing is a fundamental government responsibility, and 76% agree more social housing is needed.
“Housing is at the eye of the cost-of-living storm. In this election, we know increasing community housing is the best solution to this crippling problem and it has overwhelming public support,” CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst said.
Both CHIA and PHA called for a major expansion of the nation’s low cost rental housing initiatives.
“We are asking for a commitment that puts a significant dent in current rates of housing stress and homelessness. Australia needs one in 10 homes for social and affordable housing, and quadrupling the Housing Australia Future Fund. A different future for Australian housing is achievable with the right action,” PHA CEO Michelle Gegenhuber said.
Fewer than 4% of Australian homes are social or affordable currently. National cabinet’s Housing Australia Future Fund and the National Housing Accord Facility were officially launched in July with the aim of together delivering 20,000 social and 20,000 affordable homes across the country over five years.
The research provided further confirmation of alarming levels of housing stress. In these key electorates, one in three people lack confidence they can afford their housing costs over the next year, while 28% of renters and mortgage holders spend over half their income on housing. Some 31% in outer suburban areas say they are struggling, and 29% in the regions, compared with 24% in the inner cities.
“This is an extremely precarious position to be in, with too many people just one adverse life event away from homelessness,” said Sharon Callister, CEO of Mission Australia.
As more individuals and families struggle to find housing that is truly affordable for them, the urgent need for more social and affordable housing options has never been clearer.
“As we approach the federal budget and election, we call on the government to prioritise long-term solutions by committing to a national housing and homelessness plan with adequate funding, including the construction of one million new social and affordable homes over the coming years.”
Worst summer on record for frontline organisations
Frontline organisations supporting people impacted by Australia’s housing crisis have experienced an unprecedented surge in demand, amounting to their worst summer on record, according to Everybody’s Home.
The national housing campaign’s “Under Pressure” sector survey of dozens of frontline organisations found that 87% had a major increase in workload during December and January compared to previous years, due to the worsening housing crisis.
Nearly all (98%) of organisations – including those in housing, homelessness, domestic violence, and other social and community services – reported increased workloads over the past year and expect demand to keep rising in 2025.
“The services at the coalface of Australia’s housing crisis are at breaking point. They can barely keep up with the rising number of people facing housing stress and homelessness,” Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said.
“Frontline organisations are telling us this has been the worst summer for increased workload, as sky-high rents and the cost of living continue to smash Australians.”
Everbody’s Home analysis of SQM Research data recently showed renters across the capitals are paying $1,593 more on average over a year to rent a house, while those in apartments are paying an additional $1,084.
The campaign’s newest research also showed three in four (76%) organisations reported more complex casework, seven in ten (72%) cited increased waitlists, while two in three (67%) said they’ve been unable to provide clients with long-term housing solutions.
Three in five (63%) reported staff burnout and attrition as a major impact.
Many have concerns about government action ahead of the federal election. Nearly two in three (65%) fear that major political parties will fail to offer solutions that match the scale of the housing crisis.
“Organisations on the frontline are worried that the major parties will fail to offer solutions that match the scale of the housing crisis at this federal election. They want to see the federal government deliver real housing solutions that will ease housing stress and homelessness,” Azize said.
“This is a national emergency and it requires a national response. We need the federal government to end the massive social housing shortfall, scrap investor tax handouts, raise income support payments and protect renters from unfair rent increases. Without this urgent and necessary action, the housing crisis will never end.”
Nearly six in ten rated financial stress (59%) and homelessness (57%) as the major impacts of the housing crisis on clients.
More than one in four (26%) reported that clients remain in unsafe home environments due to a lack of alternatives
Nine in ten said staff and volunteers (89%) are directly impacted by the housing crisis.
