First the homelessness results from the 2021 Census were published, showing that the number of people recorded as homeless continued to rise from just under 90,000 in 2006 to 123,000 in 2021.

Striking is the difference between the numbers of women in 2016 and in 2021 – up by over 10%. The rising number of women in the populations experiencing homelessness in 2016 and 2021 thus accounts for almost 90% of the overall five year increase.  While numbers rose, the rate of homelessness for Australia reduced a little to the level in 2011. It still means one in 200 people were homeless on census night.

Second, the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) published its third State of the Nation’s Housing Report which for the first time attempted to get behind the global demand figures and explore housing need for lower income Australians. Even on their very conservative approach their estimates confirm what happens when we don’t focus on the type of housing supply lower income households need. NHFIC estimates ‘around 377,600 households are in housing need, comprising 331,000 households in rental stress and 46,500 households experiencing homelessness’.

The most recent report ‘Priced Out’ was released by the Everybody’s Home Campaign and compared ‘data on rents against the award wages for 15 essential worker categories’. At the national level even relatively well paid single essential workers such as firefighters and teachers would be paying 50% of their net income for unit rents sourced from SQM Research.

This all reinforces the urgency of the package of Federal housing legislation being passed. We very much hope that the government and Senate cross bench can come together and reach an agreement that enables the legislation to pass.